Most of the finest tea in the world is still harvested by hand, but for lower grades of tea it is starting to become more and more mechanized. The tea pickers are typically women as they have more of a delicate touch. They are forbidden to wear any perfumes, etc. as the tea leaves are very vulnerable to absorbing the smells around it.
As the women work their way around the tea plants, they would pick the bud and a certain number of leaves below the bud based on the quality of the the tea for which they were plucking. Premium teas are made from the bud and first leaf while they are tender and fresh. Fine teas are made from the bud and first two leaves, while more coarser grades of tea use the bud and 3 or 4 leaves.
As it so happens, a lot of the flavonoids, catechins, antioxidants, etc. that are responsible for green tea's health benefits, are also found in the bud and first two leaves of the plant. If possible, you want to drink those healthier, premium green teas that only consist of the precious bud and first 2 leaves.
For more information on china green tea and japan green tea as well the health benefits of tea, please visit our online green tea store.