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How to brew Sencha

About 75% of all tea produced in Japan is Sencha. Sencha is a rather “common” tea that is drank every day. It has a light green to yellow color and a fresh grassy taste. Normally this type of tea is not used for tea ceremonies. (Tea ceremonies require powdered green tea called matcha)

So where to get Sencha? Basically if there is no Japanese or Asian store around you that sells teas, you can always order from the Internet. If you live in the U.S.A. you can order over Amazon:

Sencha Tea, 5oz.

If however you live in Europe you can either order over Mount Fuji or from JapaneseGreenTeaOnline.

What you need for cooking Sencha:

• An earthernware teapot and cups. Of course, if you already have a glass teapot at home, just use that one. An example for a teapot with fitting cups:

  

• A thermometer is useful, as the temperature of the water has to be exactly measured.
• Sencha tea. The tea will probably look something like this:

  

Cooking instructions (2 cups):

1. Bring 250 ml (about 8 ounces) water to a boil (use normal tap water, don’t use filtered water).
2. Prepare two cups and pour the boiling water into the cups. This will simultanously warm the cups and cool down the water. Leave the water inside the cups until it reaches a temperature of about 79°C. (174.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
3. Put one teaspoon full of Sencha tea in your teapot and pour the water from the teacups into the teapot.
4. Let steep for about 1-2 minutes then pour the tea back into the cups.

The tea should have a light green to yellow color. Enjoy.