Sencha Tea | Definition, Types, Processing and preparation

Table of Contents

What is Sencha Tea?

Sencha tea is a type of green tea made from small leaves of Camellia sinensis. This green tea is one of the most popular tea in Japan. Made from leaves that grow on the top of Camellia sinensis which makes them unique in taste.

what does Sencha tea Taste like?

Sencha tea when brewed has a vibrant yellow-green colour. Tea has a light refreshing aroma and has various flavour notes such as bitter, grassy, sweet after taste. The sencha tea caffeine content is less as compared to coffee. It has around 20 mg to 30 mg caffeine per cup.

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How Sencha tea different from green tea?

Sencha is a green tea but it’s a very first harvest of tea plant and it’s made with youngest tea leaves as compared to other tea leaves. that is why this is one of the most refreshing green tea.

History and Processing

In the 17th century, Sencha tea leave was brought over to Japan from China. Before that Macha tea was most regular and preferred tea in japan. Sencha tea grows under sunlight. this tea is made from youngest tea leaves of the tea plant.

These tea leaves are plucked and then immediately steamed, to prevent any further enzymatic activity and oxidation in leaves. How long the leaves are steamed will determine the quality of tea flavour, aroma and colour. Tea leaves which are steamed for less time have a light bright green colour and more astringent taste. And the tea leaves which are steamed for a longer time will have a darker green colour and reduced astringency and aftertaste. After steaming the tea is sent into a drying tea roller for crumpling under hot air. And the last step is sorting. the final tea leaves have thin needle-like shape and they have a dark green colour.

Cultural Values related to Sencha Tea

Sencha is not just a tea in Japan it’s much more than that. In Japanese tea ceremony people gather for a formal and informal tea gathering. It involves preparation and presentation of green teas which is also known as o)temae. These tea ceremonies last up to four hours depending on the number of guest and type of occasion. Japanese tea ceremony represents respect, harmony, purity and tranquility.

Senchado is a tea ceremony specially reserved for drinking sencha tea. Let’s move to the preparation of tea.

Steps to brew/prepare sencha Japanese tea

1. The first step is to heat the teapot and other utensils such as teacups by transferring hot water in them.

2. Heat water up to 75 degree Celsius, if you do not have a thermometer you can remove the pan from heating just before when water is about to boil, as you know water boils at 100 degree Celsius.

3. Put the tea leaves in the heated teapot.

4. Pour hot water onto the tea leaves/Sencha tea bags. Cover the teapot with the pot lid.

5. Let steep the tea leaves for 30 seconds.

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6. After 30 seconds, remove tea infuser from the teapot.

7. Pour refreshing tea in cups and empty the teapot.

Note: Tea infusion time will vary based on the type of sencha tea you are using and how dense taste you prefer. it will take few trials in the early stage. once you will familiar with this practice you can set infusion time as per your preference.