Sencha Tea

Sencha is Japan's everyday green tea and the standard for the country's steamed style. The fresh leaves are steam-fixed instead of pan-fired and rolled into long, aromatic strands.

Levels of steaming within sencha change flavour and texture slightly: asamushi is clearer and herbaceous when steamed; Fukamushi - fine from extra leaf breakage & steeps faster - plusher body, deeper colour and low bitterness brewed cool.

The cup result is clean and savoury-sweet - spinach and nori over soft citrus with a subtle umami finish. Good sencha should be precise and not grassy; Cool, shorten for a silky soft infusion or slightly longer for more body.

And it works all day long: a clear, food friendly morning brew or a focused afternoon pick me up - or a refreshing mizudashi that is almost unastringent. Those looking for a green tea that feels fresh, neat and uniquely Japanese will appreciate sencha's nuance without fuss.

organically grown Japan

Flavour and Aroma

Aroma: Steam greens, nori, sweetgrass, light citrus peel.

Taste: Clean umami, pear/melon notes, light sweetness, crisp mineral finish.

Body: light-medium, satin-smooth (deeper with fukamushi).

Bitterness/astringency: very low when brewed cold; rises if overheated

Ingredients

Green tea from Camellia sinensis - 100%. No added flavours.

Caffeine level

Light-moderate (depending on leaf and steep time).

How to brew

Western style (mug/pot)

2-3 g per 250 ml.

70-75 degC water

60-90 sec, then taste

Re-steep: 2-3 times; Add another 15-30 sec each round.

Gongfu style (gaiwan/kyusu)

6 - 8 g per 100-120 ml.

70-75 degC water

First infusion 8-12 sec; extend gently for 5-7 rounds (cutter still for fukamiushi).

Cold brew/iced brew (mizudashi).

5-8 g/L cold filtered water.

Cool 4-6 hours; strain; freeze. Naturally sweet & low in bitterness!

When to drink

Morning through afternoon; Perfect for sushi / rice dishes / light salads / simple biscuits. A summer staple is cold brew.

Health benefits

Polyphenols (catechins): Sencha supplies green-tea catechins that contribute to overall antioxidant intake. Recent reviews outline extraction/abundance of catechins in tea leaves. MDPI

Blood-pressure (modest): Meta-analyses of RCTs on green-tea beverages report small reductions in systolic/diastolic BP with regular intake. ScienceDirectNMCD Journal

Calm focus: RCT meta-analyses show tea’s L-theanine + caffeine combo can improve attention/alertness in healthy adults. Cambridge University Press & AssessmentOxford Academic

Oral health adjunct: Green-tea catechins can inhibit Streptococcus mutans acid production in lab studies; a supportive, not therapeutic, role. Karger
(General information only; not medical advice.)

Health-related notes (general)

Sensitivity varies. For reflux-prone people or those just learning sencha, cool water and keep steeps short. Enjoy as a part of a healthy diet and regular hydration.

Cautionary

Caffeine - avoid at night if you're sensitive.

Tea may decrease non-HAEm iron absorption; Separate from iron-rich meals/supplements for 1-2 hours.

Some find green tea on an empty stomach nauseating - try with a light snack.

Unusual symptoms should be discontinued. Keep out of reach of kids.

Storage and Shelf Life

Store airtight, cool, dark and dry, away from odours. Best within 12-18 months; Use within 1 hour of opening for best freshness.

Quick FAQs

So why was my sencha bitter?
Most likely too hot or too long-drop to 70-75 degC and steep 1 minute.

What is sencha vs matcha?
Sencha has leafy roots. Matcha is powdered stone that you whisk into a liquid that you drink whole.