Sencha green tea is a healthy drink of Japanese origin that is now popular all over the world. Its liquor color ranges from golden to jade green, and its taste is both refreshing and umami. It is also booming with rich aromas and flavors, as in wine tasting.
What is Sencha Green Tea?
Sencha is generally steamed green tea. It is made from the leaves of the plant with the name Camellia sinensis known as the tea plant or tea tree. For example, Shincha, fukamushi, and asamushi are all sencha terms. It is a tea that has a balance of flavor, sweetness, and a hint of astringency. And its taste is sometimes compared to that of fresh plants such as vegetables or seaweed. There are many variations in the tea’s origin and production method.
Sencha tea leaves are harvested and steamed to keep the fresh green color and the flavor of the tea leaves. The tea leaves are then rolled to remove astringency and bring out the flavor. This is how it differs from black tea and Chinese tea.
As the name Camellia sinensis shows, the tea plant is in the flowering plant family Theaceae. The leaves resemble those of the camellia.
What is Sencha? Differences between Sencha and Other Tea
Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the same as black tea and oolong tea. Tea leaves contain oxidizing enzymes. It makes s the fresh tea leaves ferment rapidly after harvesting. Destroying the oxidative enzymes is an essential point in the tea-making process.
Oolong tea is made by fermenting tea leaves to a certain extent. Black tea is made with complete fermentation.
What is Sencha? Benefits of Sencha Green Tea
Since ancient times, people have had tea as a health drink. What exactly are the health benefits of sencha green tea in the end? Here’s a clear pick-up of the most common benefits!
Dietary Benefits due to Zero Calories and Zero Carbohydrates
If you regularly drink juice or coffee with sugar, we recommend you to switch them to sencha. You can avoid unnecessary calories and sugar intake. It is said that the antioxidants in Japanese tea have a fat-burning effect. The caffeine in sencha tea can also help you lose weight if consumed before exercise.
Immunity-Enhancing Expectations
Residents of tea-producing regions in Japan gargle with sencha green tea. The catechins and vitamin C in green tea prevent colds.
Oral Health Benefits
Sencha tea is also beneficial for oral health. Fluoride, which is contained in green tea, helps to maintain oral hygiene. Green tea is considered effective in preventing tooth decay.
Caffeine of Sencha Green Tea
The amount of caffeine in sencha varies depending on the type of sencha and how it is brewed. It is generally about one-third that of coffee. Each 100 g of coffee extract contains about 60 mg of caffeine, while 100 g of sencha extract contains about 20 mg of caffeine.
Sencha tea also contains caffeine, although to a lesser extent than coffee. Be careful not to have too much caffeine.
What foods go with sencha tea?
Fine Japanese teas can go with meals as well as confectioneries.
Sencha harmonizes with the strong flavors of meat and fish dishes.
You can pair it with chocolate and fruit too.
Where to Buy Sencha Tea?
You can buy sencha at supermarkets and convenience stores. You can also purchase sencha through mail-order websites such as Amazon and Rakuten. You can find sencha teas from a variety of regions at department stores. It is highly recommended to go to a small tea shop and ask the staff with proper knowledge of sencha. They can help you find the sencha you prefer.
We also recommend online shopping websites specializing in Japanese teas.
How to Brew Sencha? Basic Sencha Tea Recipe for One to Two Servings
Let’s learn how to brew sencha tea at home!
You make black tea ry pouring hot water over it, but we make Japanese tea with slightly cooled water.
- Place 3g-4g of sencha leaves in a teapot.
- Transfer the boiling water to a teacup or cup and allow the water to cool.
- Pour the water from the teacup into the kyusu. Cover with a lid and let steep for 1 to 1.5 minutes.
- Pouring from the kyusu into the teacups.
- Switch the teacups to pour the water a little at a time.
Tips on How to Make Delicious Sencha Green Tea
Japanese tea is often thought of as simply adding hot water to tea leaves. Take the time and effort to drink it well! Knowing how to infuse can make your everyday tea drink much tastier.
Tip 1 for Brewing Tasty Sencha tea: Use the appropriate amount of tea leaves
The sweetness, umami, and astringency in sencha tea leaves vary according to the type of tea. Basically, the appropriate amount of tea leaves is about 2.5 g to 3 g per serving. If the packaging states the appropriate amount, it is better to follow that. ‘ little less umami or flavor?’ If this is the case, try adding a bit more tea leaves.
Tip 2 for Brewing Tasty Sencha tea: Do not pour boiled water directly into tea leaves in a teapot
The appropriate water temperature varies depending on the types and quality of Japanese tea. Generally, it is between 70°C and 80°C. Pouring boiled water over the tea leaves only results in making astringency. You cannot enjoy the full flavor of sencha. If the first cup has astringency, the tea has pronounced astringency until the second or third cup. Remember to let the water cool down.
Pouring boiled water over tea leaves inevitably accentuates bitterness and astringency. Of course, some people prefer hot, bitter tea.
What is a Different Type of Sencha? According to the Steaming Process
When you buy sencha green tea, you would see ‘fukamushi’ on some packages.
The term ‘mushi’ means ‘steaming’. It refers to the amount of steaming and heat applied in the first stage of the sencha brewing process. The process of steaming tea leaves is unique to Japanese tea.
Asamushi (Lightly Steamed)
The term ‘mushi’ means ‘steaming’. It refers to the amount of steaming and heat applied in the first stage of the sencha brewing process. The process of steaming tea leaves is unique to Japanese tea.
In Japanese, ‘asamushi’ means shortly-steamed. This type of sencha itself is not easy to find. You can enjoy its fresh taste.
Futsumushi (Standard)
Compared to deep-steamed tea, it is generally sweetness is brought out. This types of sencha offer a combination of astringency and sweetness.
Fukamushi (Deep Steamed)
Fukamushi is a sencha in which the tea leaves are steamed longer than usual. This type is recommended for those who want to enjoy the astringency and bitterness of the tea. Also, its liquor color is vivid green. Because the tea leaves are steamed more than usual, you may feel brittle and powdery when drunk.
