It differs from gyokuro (refined green tea) and kabusecha (covered tea), which are both made from the leaves of tea plants grown under covers to shutter the sunlight, as well as from bancha (coarse green tea), which is made from large-size leaves and stems.
玉露やかぶせ茶は栽培方法で日光を遮る点、また番茶は大きな葉や茎を使用する点において狭義の煎茶と異なる。