Tea varieties
What Is Sencha Green Tea?
Sencha is a common style of Japanese green tea made from leaves that are steamed, rolled, and dried. It can offer a fresh, vegetal, sometimes savory cup.
A distinct processing path
Japanese green tea production often uses steam soon after harvest to limit oxidation. The leaves are then shaped and dried. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture identifies sencha as a representative Japanese tea, while also noting that Japanese green tea includes many other styles.
Sencha is a category, not a uniform taste. Steaming duration, growing conditions, and final finishing can shift the balance of sweetness, savoriness, and briskness.
Keep the brew gentle
Begin with water cooler than a typical black-tea brew, around 80°C as a broad green-tea starting point. Taste a small cup and shorten the steep if the leaf turns sharp.
If you enjoy the first infusion, try a second with fresh water. It may highlight a different part of the leaf’s character.