China Green Tea Sencha Zhengqing Tea

Sencha is a steamed green tea made from small-leaf Camellia sinensis (tea bushes), sencha tends to have a refreshing flavor that can be described as vegetal, green, seaweedy, or grassy. Flavors vary with different types of sencha and how they are brewed.

The process begins with the camellia sinensis plant, as almost all teas do. Sencha is made from leaves that grow under sunlight. This is different from other types of green tea, which we will discuss later. After the plant grows, they are harvested in the first or second flush, with the first harvest being the best quality sencha. This first flush is known as Sencha. Also, the leaves from the upper shoots are most often picked because they are the youngest leaves and are therefore higher quality.

After the growing and picking process, the leaves move off to a plantation. This is where most of the action happens. Firstly, the steaming process begins immediately to prevent oxidation. Oxidation affects the outcome of the tea drastically. If leaves are partially oxidized, they become oolong tea. Fully oxidized leaves become black tea and green tea has no oxidation. Moving along, the tea leaves go into the drying and rolling process. This is where the tea gets it shape and taste, as they move into cylinders to dry off and get broken down. As a result, the shape of the leaves is needle-like and the taste is fresh.

Sencha green tea can have a range of flavors including grass, sweet, astringent, spinach, kiwi, brussel sprouts, kale, and even butternut notes. Color ranges from very light green to yellow and deep and vibrant emerald green. Depending on how you brew it, it can be more or less astringent with a sweet aftertaste and pronounced savory note, the taste of sencha which can range from subtle to a stronger flavor and very sweet aftertaste.