1.
sencha, green tea
The most commonly drunk type of Japanese green tea, made by steeping processed tea leaves in hot water. Distinguished from matcha (powdered tea) and other varieties by its brewing method.
食後に煎茶を飲む。
I drink sencha after meals.
煎茶は熱湯ではなく、少し冷ましたお湯で淹れるとおいしい。
Sencha tastes best when brewed with water that has cooled slightly, rather than boiling water.
日本で最も多く飲まれているお茶は煎茶で、生産量の約六割を占める。
The most widely consumed tea in Japan is sencha, accounting for about 60 percent of production.
TYPES OF JAPANESE TEA:
煎茶 is the everyday green tea of Japan, distinct from:
- 抹茶: powdered tea used in tea ceremony
- 玉露: a high-grade shaded tea with a rich umami flavor
- ほうじ茶: roasted green tea with a toasty flavor
- 番茶: coarser, everyday tea from later harvests
BREWING:
煎茶 is best brewed at around 70-80°C, not boiling water. Using cooler water brings out sweetness and umami while reducing bitterness.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 煎茶を淹れる: to brew sencha
- 煎茶を飲む: to drink sencha
- 深蒸し煎茶: deep-steamed sencha