Sencha Green Tea

by Stephanie Harkins

Of the many different types of green teas available, Sencha Green Tea is one of the most popular, due to its good taste and affordability. Sencha, known also as Futsu mushi Sencha, is a higher grade of green tea than Bancha. It is harvested from the same tree as Bancha grade, but it is plucked earlier in the season than Bancha is, giving it a higher market grade. This also gives it a fresh crisp, almost grassy taste. The taste of the Sencha leaves blend very well with almost any flavor, making Sencha tea a popular green tea ‘base’ for a lot of flavored green teas.

Sencha leaves are usually bright green, whole leaves with spear-like tips, and are un-ground. They are flat, and some Sencha leaves expand greatly in water, taking on the appearance of fresh, whole tea leaves swirling gracefully in the water.

Sencha is a Japanese tea, and it’s literal translation into English is close to “Steamed Tea”. Most Japanese teas are steamed, and Sencha is a very popular tea in Japan. Over three quarters of all tea now produced in the Japanese tea gardens is in fact graded as Sencha. Sencha leaves are actually processed by first being steamed for 15–45 seconds which is necessary to prevent oxidization of the leaves. After being steamed, the leaves are then shaped and dried. This step creates the customary thin blade-like appearance of the tea. Finally, after drying, the tea leaves are pan-fired to enhance flavor and improve preservation of the dried leaves.

True Sencha differs in character from most Chinese-style green teas not only with its sleeker, dark green appearance but its higher green tones, which are somewhat reminiscent of seaweed, compared to the nutty, warm and vegetal tones of the Chinese teas. If you like teas which are refreshing and have a hint of sharpness to them, then you most definitely should try Sencha. I actually recommend tasting both Sencha AND Bancha to see which you personally prefer, although many people enjoy both for their individual merits and flavor profiles.

Sencha tea emphasizes the balance of flavors (sweet, bitter, astringent and rich), and it’s aroma is refreshing and calming. Even when not used as a base for flavored teas, Sencha on its own still makes a beautiful tea that is appropriate for everyday drinking, or meditation.

Sencha also makes a fabulous iced green tea in the warmer summer, and retains most of its flavor when chilled, so Sencha can be enjoyed at any time of day or year, and goes well with meals as well! Because of the multitude of good attributes in Sencha, it is a remarkably versatile tea that should be appreciated by every tea drinker.

Stephanie is the publisher of the Tea Review Blog.