If you love Japanese tea, you’ve probably heard both words—Sencha (green tea) and Matcha. But are they the same thing? At Nara Tea, we often meet customers who wonder why matcha is bright green and creamy while sencha looks more like steeped leaves in a teapot. Let’s break it down in a simple way.
🌱 Sencha: Japan’s Everyday Green Tea
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How it’s grown: Sencha is made from tea leaves grown in full sunlight.
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How it’s made: The leaves are steamed, rolled, and dried.
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How it’s enjoyed: Brewed in a teapot, then poured into cups. The tea leaves stay behind as you drink only the infusion.
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Flavor: Fresh, grassy, sometimes slightly astringent with a clean finish.
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Why it matters: Sencha is the most common green tea in Japan—think of it as the daily comfort tea found in almost every household.
🍵 Matcha: The Tea of Ceremony
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How it’s grown: Before harvest, matcha tea fields are covered with shade (a method called tana or kabuse). This increases chlorophyll and amino acids like L-theanine, making the tea sweeter and more umami-rich.
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How it’s made: The leaves are steamed and dried into tencha, then stone-ground into a fine powder.
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How it’s enjoyed: Instead of steeping, the powder is whisked directly into hot water using a bamboo whisk (chasen). You drink the entire tea leaf in powdered form.
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Flavor: Rich, creamy, full-bodied with a balance of umami and natural sweetness.
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Why it matters: Matcha is central to the Japanese tea ceremony (Chanoyu) but has also become a global favorite in lattes, desserts, and smoothies.
| Aspect | Sencha (Green Tea) | Matcha |
|---|---|---|
| Growing style | Full sun | Shade grown before harvest |
| Processing | Steamed, rolled, dried | Made into tencha, stone ground |
| Drinking | Steeped leaves, tea is filtered | Powder whisked & fully consumed |
| Flavor | Fresh, grassy, slightly astringent | Creamy, umami, naturally sweet |
| Everyday use | Common household tea in Japan | Ceremonial tea, modern cafés |
Why Both Are Worth Trying
Sencha and matcha are siblings, not twins. Both come from the same tea plant (Camellia sinensis), but their cultivation and preparation create completely different experiences.
We love introducing customers to both: the refreshing clarity of sencha, and the rich depth of matcha. Together, they show the beautiful diversity of Japanese green tea.