Tending light liquoring, smooth with reasonable depth and body.
Infusion
Pale yellow green.
Ingredients
Premium green tea.
Information
Japan produces some of the best green teas in the world. The primary producing area in Japan is the Shizuoka prefecture, which is southwest of Tokyo. Despite the fact that mechanical plucking is used, the tea made is generally considered the best green tea in the world. The production of green tea entails the steaming of the green leaf and hand or machine rubbing. The teas are then pan-fried or basket fired which gives them a distinctive appearance and glossy look and feel. These methods give a taste that is light in color but rich and full in the cup.
Sencha is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies marking events of personal importance. In this type of ceremony it is the ritual that is of paramount importance as the individual is being acknowledged. For ceremonies marking life altering events, matcha is used. Matcha is a sencha that has been turned into a powder through a painstaking but important ritual.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180F or 90C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup and let the tea steep for about 3 minutes. Begin enjoying a cup of enchantment but do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low, add more water, and repeat until the flavor of the tea is exhausted.
Alternatively, as with all quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea into the teapot and pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn. Steep for 2-4 minutes to taste, stir, and pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since green tea is enjoyed straight-up.
Iced tea-brewing method (to make 1 qt): Scoop 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat-resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher, straining the leaves. Add ice and top off the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. Please note that this tea may tend to be cloudy or milky when poured over ice.
