Produced from 1st and 2nd harvest leaves, this is the classic Japanese loose leaf tea and constitutes over 80% of tea consumption in Japan. It’s characterized by a grassy aroma and a mild sweet taste balanced with underlying bitterness. The biggest factors determining the flavor and appearance of Sencha are the harvest and steaming time.
Japan is extremely efficient in its tea production reaching yields of 1500 pounds per acre. Despite the fact that mechanical plucking is used, the tea made is generally considered the best green tea in the world. Interestingly, due to its northern latitude all the tea fields have large fans covering the whole acreage. The fans are turned on during cold snaps to circulate the air and protect the tea bush from freezing.
Sencha is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies marking events of personal importance. For ceremonies marking a life altering event, Matcha is used. In this type of ceremony it is the ritual that is of paramount importance as the individual is being acknowledged.
