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Sencha

煎茶

8.4/10 editor's score

Steamed green tea and Japan's most popular tea, about 80 percent of what the country produces. Shizuoka is its heartland.

SteamedEverydayUmami
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Sencha, top-down

What you need

3 g leafSencha
200 ml water70 to 80°C
Steep 1:003 steeps
LiquorBright yellow-green
Served inKyūsu and yunomi

At a glance

Steamed green tea and Japan's most popular tea, about 80 percent of what the country produces.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestLate April to May (first flush)The freshest, sweetest sencha.
Pairs withSushi, Rice crackers, Tofu, WagashiLess good with very sweet cakes
Grown atHills and plateaus below Mount FujiShizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture
Served inKyūsu and yunomiJapanese teapot, tall cup

About Sencha

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a fresh, grassy flavour that changes with water temperature: cooler water gives a sweeter cup, hotter water a more bitter one 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

ShizuokaShizuoka PrefectureJAPAN
Share
About 80% of tea made in Japan 1
Heartland
Shizuoka supplies most of Japan's tea 2
Process
Steamed, then rolled into needles 1
Best flush
First flush, shincha, in spring 1

More from Shizuoka and Japan.

History and culture

Sencha is the most popular tea in Japan, about 80 percent of the tea produced there 1.

Japanese green tea is steamed for 15 to 20 seconds, unlike Chinese green teas, which are pan-fired 1.

Editor's score

8.4/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.0Origin & heritage: 8.5Availability: 9.5Value: 8.5Beginner-friendliness: 8.0Versatility: 8.5Flavour 8.0Heritage 8.5Availability 9.5Value 8.5Beginners 8.0Versatility 8.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Sencha~30 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Hotter water extracts more caffeine 1. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

The first flush in spring gives the best sencha 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Camellia sinensis, grown in full sun or shaded only briefly 1.

How it is made
01Plucking

Spring leaf.

02Steaming

Stops oxidation and keeps the colour.

03Rolling

Shaped into needles.

04Drying

Dried and sorted.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafFine, deep green needles.
LiquorBright yellow-green.
After steeping
Wet leafVivid green leaf pieces.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Sushi
  • Rice crackers
  • Tofu
  • Wagashi

Best avoided

  • Very sweet cakes

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and smells.
  • Green tea fades fastest: aim to finish it within 3 to 6 months of opening.
  • Unopened sealed packs can go in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before opening.
Grades and fakes

Deep-steamed (fukamushi) sencha is cloudier and richer; light-steamed is clearer 1.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Look for the harvest date: sencha is best fresh.
  2. Store sealed and cool.
FAQ
Why is my sencha bitter?

The water is probably too hot or the steep too long.

What is shincha?

The very first sencha of the year, sold in late spring.

Find it inGreen teasTeas from JapanShizuokaSteamedEverydayUmami

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Sencha". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sencha
  2. Wikipedia, "Shizuoka Prefecture". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shizuoka_Prefecture
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.