Green Tea, Japanese Sencha (Camellia sinensis) – Dried Herb, Organic

Sencha is a type of Green Tea, which comes from plant Camellia sinensis. Common names are Tea Plant, Tea Shrub or Tea Tree (not to confuse with Malaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil). Camellia sin is a flowering evergreen shrub usually trimmed below 6 feet when cultivated for its leaves. The flowers are yellow-white with 7-8 petals. It belongs to the Theaceae family and leaves or leaf buds are used to produce tea. The tea plants are native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia but today it is cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions.

Green Teas have been known and used for the last 5000 years as medicinal plant, but it wasn’t until the 17th century when Sencha Tea was first being used. The tea leaf was brought over to Japan from China by monks who travelled across to China to learn about their culture. Before that Matcha was preferred drink of choice in Japan. But Sencha has become by far the most popular tea due to its fast preparation. In Japanese “Sen” refers to the art of “pouring” with hot water and “Cha” means tea.

Sencha is made from leaves that grow in the full sun opposite to Matcha which is grown in the shade. This makes a difference in the properties of each tea. Sencha has more catechin antioxidants because of the sun, while Matcha has more caffeine and theanine from less sun. For Sencha only the young and middle shoots are harvested and processed quickly after harvest. Through this process, the fermentation of the tea leaves is stopped and therefore the tea stays green.

From naturopathic perspective Sencha is often referred to as the “King” of all Green Teas. Other Green Teas also contain many positive health benefits but in Sencha these properties can be found in the highest levels and with the most balance. In ancient China and Japan was Green Tea used for daily maintenance, prevention and with a weakened constitution. It has been also used for performance improvement (mental and physical), weight loss, to fight tooth decay, strengthening immune system, to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Properties:

The taste of Sencha varies greatly depending on where it was produced and the quality of the tea. It can range from slightly tart and bitter to fresh, fragrant, grassy and slightly sweet. Our Green Tea offers vegetative, fruity character with refreshing, very clean finish. Sencha has affinity towards metabolism, blood, veins, arteries, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, immune support, temperature regulation and stomach.

How to use:

1 teaspoon of Green Tea to one cup of water. Steeping temperatures range from 61°C (142°F) to 87°C (189°F) and steeping times from 30 seconds to three minutes. Steeping for too long or too hot results in the release of excessive amounts of tannins, leading to a bitter astringent brew. Experiment with the quantity of a tea and steeping time to find your perfect cup!

Cautions & contraindications:

In large quantities it might interfere with iron absorption and those with caffeine sensitivity as well as pregnant and breastfeeding woman should practice caution.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to the use of this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.