How to Brew a Perfect Cup of Sencha Green Tea

by wawaza.com staff writers

Sencha is undoubtedly the most popular tea in Japan, and is considered to be one of the most aromatic and delicious of all green teas.

High quality Sencha green teas yield their maximum flavor when brewed at temperatures much lower than boiling, and for less time than other teas. Brew it in water that is too hot, and the tea will end up tasting bitter.

Here are a few easy tips for brewing a perfect cup of Sencha.

 

 

Brew Notes

Color ……………… Yellow green
Flavor Notes …..  Mildly sweet and aromatic
Brew temp ………  Simmering (not boiling) water.  About 70-77 °C  (160-170 °F)
Brew time ……….  2 minutes
How much tea….. 1 teaspoon per cup (about 3 grams per 120 ml)

Brew Tips

Use good water.  Even the best tea cannot make bad water taste good! Do NOT pour boiling water over the tea leaves for brewing. Let it cool down a bit. Do NOT brew for too long. A couple of minutes will do. Do NOT stir, shake or mix the tea while brewing.

 

Bring Water to Boil in a Kettle

Pour hot water from kettle into each cup. Let the water cool down a bit in each cup for about 2 minutes. Sencha tastes best when brewed at 160-170°F (70-77°C).

 

Add Tea to Teapot

While waiting for the water to cool down, start adding tea leaves to the empty teapot. One teaspoonful per cup is sufficient (3 grams per 120 ml). This is approximately about a rounded teaspoon. However, you may adjust the amount depending on your own taste.

Add Water from Cups to Teapot, and Brew

Close the lid of the teapot. Let the tea brew for about 2 to 3 minutes. You may adjust the time for what suits your palate best. DO NOT stir, shake or mix the tea while brewing.

 

Serve and Enjoy!

Pour small amounts of tea into each cup at a time, and go around until the very last drop is poured. Japanese firmly believe that the last drop of tea determines its taste as a whole! They call it the “golden drop.”
You can add hot water again to the teapot for a second, or even a third brewing.

 

Miyazaki Whispers is blogs from Japan on wellness, culture, haiku, green teas and sustainable living. This blog is an extension of wawaza.com, a website for authentic Japanese lifestyle products.