You might hear a lot about matcha, but not so much about ‘sencha’. ‘What is the difference between and matcha?’ This article give you an answer to the question.
You may be somewhat familiar with both matcha and sencha. But you are not sure about the clear difference between them. Matcha and sencha green tea are healthy drinks.
Both of them are derived from the leaves of the same shrub ‘tea tree’.
Matcha and sencha are both terms used to describe different forms of Japanese tea. Matcha is a powdered tea made from tea leaves grown and manufactured for matcha only. You can enjoy drinking the whole leaf if you choose matcha. Sencha is loose leaf tea. Matcha and sencha are grown and manufactured in a different way.
Tea culture has developed over a long history dating from the 7th century onwards. Two forms of tea were created: matcha and sencha. Both are now enjoyed in Japan. Japanese tea culture is also popular abroad.
What is the difference between matcha vs sencha?
Different Tea History and Cultures
Matcha, a powdered tea, was born first. Sencha developed from matcha culture.
People began drinking tea in China in the 7th century. The Japanese learned tea cultivation and tea culture after.
From the 10th century onwards, a method developed uniquely. People milled tea leaves to powder and whipped them with hot water. They called it matcha. Matcha was an expensive beverage, a taste treat, and popular among the high nobility.
In the 16th century, the Japanese people established a unique method of making sencha. It became popular soon after.The spread of sencha brought the enjoyment of tea to the general public.
Different ways of enjoying tea
Matcha is a powdered whole leaf tea, while sencha is a loose leaf tea. Due to their different shapes, they have different tastes even though both are the same as green tea.
In matcha, the tea leaves are powdered and all consumed, whereas, in sencha, the liquor is extracted from the tea leaves.
Matcha is made by whisking it with hot water with a bamboo whisk called a chasen. Sencha is made by straining tea leaves into a teapot called a kyusu.
Different cultivation and production methods
Matcha is produced by blocking sunlight, while sencha is produced by exposing it to sunlight.
The tea leaves used for matcha are called ‘tencha.’
When we grind Tencha, it is called matcha. Tencha is shaded for about 20 days before harvesting to hide leaves from sunlight. Sencha, on the other hand, is grown without sunlight. By blocking out the sunlight, its sweetness and umami compounds are stored in the leaves.
In sencha, the tea leaves are rolled to remove astringency and bitterness, whereas in tencha there is no rolling process.
Due to different cultivation methods, the components in matcha and sencha are different. Matcha contains more caffeine than sencha.
Summary: What are the similarities between matcha vs sencha?
Both are healthy drinks!
Both matcha and sencha are expected to have certain benefits.
It is a drink made from the leaves of the same plant. Tea has a history of being drunk as a medicine.
What is matcha after all?
This tea is made by whisking powdered tea leaves, which have a beautiful warbler color.
The tea ceremony is generally the art of enjoying this powdered tea. The tea form was introduced from China and developed into a major art form in the 16th century by the tea master Sen no Rikyu as ‘wabicha’.
Tencha, used for matcha, is made by steaming, drying, and storing tea leaves. The powdered tea is called matcha. Matcha is dissolved in hot water and whisked to make it palatable.
In modern times, matcha is used in confectionery and dessert beverages as an ingredient with bright color and depth of flavor.
What is sencha after all?
It is a form of tea that developed after the matcha culture in Japan.
Sencha has developed as a tea that is familiar to Japanese people in their daily lives.
It is a form of tea that allows the user to enjoy the gradual change in flavor from the first cup to the second and third cups by infusing the tea leaves; it is also economical, as it is not only the first cup, but also the second and third cups are made from the same tea leaves, and the first cup is made from the same tea leaves.
It is preferred at work and home because it is easier to store than matcha and can be brewed without difficult etiquette.
As well as matcha, sencha also has a formalised culture. It is called sencha-do.
Common mistakes! Matcha does not mean powdered sencha!
Powdered sencha is often mistaken for matcha. The powdered tea leaves used to make sencha are just powdered green tea.
Matcha is a very fine-grained powder and is very dry compared to powdered green tea.
