Sencha Green Tea

What is sencha tea?

Sencha tea is a type of green tea harvested from small-leaf Camellia sinensis (tea bushes). Some people call it Japanese green tea because of its main origin. This is the most popular tea in Japan, where green tea is the most popular beverage. It is also grown in China and South Korea. It is processed to retain much of the green colour and the flavours.  

Japanese sencha green tea has a vegetal grassy flavour. This is because the leaves are steamed after picking, then rolled, shaped and finally dried.  Other varieties have slightly different flavours from their processing. China sencha has nutty roasted flavours because it is pan-fried instead of steamed. These teas are mainly used in blending. 

You can now Sencha tea buy online from the Tea Leaves Australia company, and get any orders above $75 delivered for free. 

What are the health benefits of sencha tea?

• Weight control –  Sencha tea contains trace amounts of caffeine which nonetheless help in raising your body’s metabolic rate. This means you burn higher calories even when not very physically active, but better results are seen when you combine drinking tea with other healthy lifestyle habits such as dieting and exercising.
• Lower blood pressure – Green tea helps keep bad cholesterol (LDL) low which keeps arteries healthier and flexible, able to pump blood and maintain good levels of blood pressure. This also lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Lower risks of cancer – Sencha tea contains the highest levels of antioxidants among green teas. These antioxidants destroy free radicals which are the molecules that cause changes in body cells leading to cancer.  
• Mood booster – In Japan, tea is often taken as a social event, a custom that has also spread to other parts of the world. Social interactions are known to be beneficial for emotional stability.  The small amount of caffeine in Sencha tea is also an energy booster making you feel refreshed, calm and focused. 

Is sencha better than matcha?

Although they are both green teas, there are differences in growing and processing matcha and sencha teas.   Matcha is picked from the youngest two top leaves while sencha is harvested from the stem, shoot and two or three top leaves. This means you get a larger variety of minerals, amino acids and other micronutrients from sencha. Sometimes the two are blended to give sencha matcha green tea.

Does sencha tea contain caffeine?

Sencha tea has trace amounts of caffeine, just enough to give a metabolic boost. This is 12-75 mg per cup of tea as compared to 125-280 mg in a cup of coffee. 

How to enjoy sencha tea?

Sencha should be prepared with water that has just started to simmer.  The brewing time is short, steeping for   15-30 seconds. Steeping for longer gives a stronger flavour but more astringent because of the tannins. If you have to brew more than once, use hotter water.

How long does sencha tea last?

Sencha tea that is kept in a tightly sealed container has a two year shelf life. However, you are advised to consume it within 2 weeks of opening the container. 

What does sencha mean?

Sencha is a Japanese word that translates to ‘simmering tea.’ This came from the technique of simmering whole tea leaves instead of the usual roasting and steeping methods used by the Chinese. This new technique prepared whole tea leaves by steaming them instead of pan-frying. Sencha tea has grown to be the most popular green tea in Japan, and Australia grown and produced sencha is becoming very popular.