What is Sencha Tea?

Sencha tea is a type of Japanese green tea that is known for its delicate, refreshing taste and numerous health benefits. One interesting fact about sencha tea is that it is made from the leaves of the tea plant that receive direct sunlight, as opposed to shaded leaves, which are used to make other types of Japanese green tea, such as matcha or gyokuro. This gives sencha tea a unique flavor profile that is distinct from other Japanese green teas. Sencha tea is also high in antioxidants, which can help to reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and support immune function.

Sencha green tea has less caffeine than coffee. On average it contains 12-75 milligrams of caffeine compared to 80-200 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee. It's also less dehydrating and better for you.

Sencha tea is a type of Japanese green tea that has been enjoyed for centuries. The history of sencha tea can be traced back to the 8th century, when Japanese Buddhist monks brought tea seeds from China and began cultivating them in Japan. Sencha iced tea is a refreshing and easy-to-make beverage that is perfect for hot summer days or anytime you want a cool and refreshing drink. It is made by steeping sencha tea leaves in hot water, then cooling the tea and serving it over ice.

How is Sencha Green Tea Used?

There are four (4) ways to use Sencha Green Tea.

1. Hot or Iced 

2. Cocktails, Gin and Botanicals

3. Food cooking (entree's, main meals, desserts)

4. Flavouring (marinades, soups, sauces)

In this post we're sharing our recipe for making Japanese Sencha Green Tea as an iced tea beverage. 

Here's the easy way to make sencha tea like a pro, aka Japanese nobility.

Sencha Tea - Preparation

Hot Brew Sencha Tea

• TEA: 1.5 teaspoons loose Calm Sencha Tea by The Tea Cartel
• WATER: 1 cup (8 fl. oz.)
• WATER TEMPERATURE: 160°F
• STEEP TIME: 2 minutes

Making Sencha Tea (hot brew)

STEP 1:

• The right water is really important for brewing good tea, so don’t just boil tap water. Use filtered water.
• To make green tea, an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Set water temperature to 160°F. If you’re boiling water on the stovetop, turn off the heat as soon as it starts to simmer.
• Boil extra water so that you can warm up the teapot. 

STEP 2: 

• Pour some of the hot water into teapot. Swirl the water around and then throw it out. 
• This is a really important step to brewing tea properly.
• Warming up the pot helps maintain a stable temperature while brewing the tea. 

STEP 3:

• Put sencha tea into teapot and add hot water.

STEP 4:

• Cover teapot and wait 2 minutes.
• Sencha can be a little finicky with steep time. To make sure it doesn’t get bitter, be careful to time it and don’t brew it for more than 2 minutes.
• To keep the water hot while the tea steeps, make sure the teapot is covered.

STEP 5: 

• Strain sencha leaves and pour hot tea into a teacup.
• Allow to cool, add ice and enjoy.

A perfect cup of sencha that is never bitter, just full of umami.

If your tea is too bitter, it’s either because the water is too hot or it was brewed for too long. In Japan, Sencha tea is traditionally brewed in a Japanese teapot called "Kyusu". 

Cold Brew Sencha Tea

• TEA: 1.5 teaspoons loose sencha or 1 tea sachet
• WATER: 1 cup (8 fl. oz.)
• WATER TEMPERATURE: Cold water
• STEEP TIME: 3 hours

Making Sencha Tea (hot brew)

STEP 1:

• Put sencha tea into pitcher. Add filtered water at room temperature.
• Cover pitcher and put in fridge for 3 hours.

STEP 2:

• Strain sencha tea leaves.
• Serve over ice.
• Enjoy fresh.