- Japan first saw tea along with another famous Chinese export, Buddhism. Buddhist monks brought tea, tea culture and ultimately tea plants to Japan late in the sixth century. It was not until the twelfth century that tea drinking was embraced by the Japanese citizenry. Today nearly all tea grown in Japan is green tea. It can be separated into three grades: Gyokura, Sencha and Bancha. - This Fukujyu is in the sencha category and is rated as one of the better export sencha teas. The green leaf whic