As you explore the world of tea, you may encounter sencha and matcha.
Both are Japanese green teas, but they are drastically different drinking experiences.
Today, we are comparing sencha vs matcha, exploring their origins, benefits, flavors, and uses, and finally, we will show you how to choose which is best for you.
Let’s dive in.
What is Sencha?
The word “sencha” translates to “infused tea.” It’s a smooth, earthy Japanese green tea. Its texture will likely be more familiar to you than matcha’s, as it’s brewed tea rather than a whisked powdered tea like matcha.
Origin and History
Sencha grew to fame in the 17th century as a response to the strict rituals surrounding the Tea Ceremony and consumption of matcha.
Sencha, by comparison, is a more straightforward and carefree approach to tea accessible to the average person.
Its production is similar to matcha. Steaming is part of the production process that prevents oxidation and locks in vibrancy and flavor.
However, there are a few key differences when we compare sencha vs matcha.
Shading: Sencha is not shaded in the growing process like matcha is. This is the primary difference in the cultivation between the two teas. Growing in full sunlight means sencha has less of an umami flavor than matcha, though it still has the customary earthy flavor of most types of green tea.
Infused: Sencha is an infused tea. It is not ground like matcha. This means you brew whole, steamed sencha leaves to make tea from the essence of the leaves. Understanding how long to steep green tea is crucial for a perfect cup of sencha.
Matcha requires grinding the entire leaf into powder and making a thick tea with its contents.
Harvesting: Like matcha, sencha leaves are traditionally harvested by hand. However, most modern sencha production involves mechanized harvesting. This includes a rolling process that used to be very labor-intensive but now relies on machines.
Health Benefits
As a green tea, sencha has many health benefits, including:
Cognitive abilities: Scientists from the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University found that green tea boosts memory and executive functioning.
Antioxidants: Antioxidants protect cells from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage DNA and cause cell changes that can lead to cancer.
Antioxidants defend against this and reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a study by King Faisal University.
Weight loss: A study by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad found that regular consumption of green tea positively enhances your metabolism. Regular aerobic exercise enhances this benefit, leading to weight loss.
Flavors and Applications
Sencha’s flavor is more mellow and light than matcha. It has a fresh, oceanic quality akin to seaweed.
Sencha is lighter in color than matcha, with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Matcha, on the other hand, is very vibrant in color and has a slightly sweet, earthy flavor.
You can enjoy sencha, both cold and hot, and it is a delightful addition to herbal tea infusions.
Matcha is more versatile as a powder, which is perfect for trying new matcha recipes. Matcha dessert recipes range from donuts to chocolate. It’s also used in smoothies and lattes and added to fruit juices for an extra zing.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is vibrant, robust, and unique among teas. It’s a taste that some have to cultivate an appreciation for over time, and others love it right away.
Origin and History
Matcha originated among Zen monks who prepared it regularly for their rituals and meditative practices.
Later, in the 16th century, tea master Sen no Rikyū formalized the Japanese tea ceremony, in which matcha played a primary part.
Traditional matcha cultivation requires just as much intention. The tender first leaves are laboriously shaded from the sun, so they remain packed with flavor and vibrancy. They are then laboriously hand-picked and ground between stones.
Modern industrial methods are only slightly less labor-intensive. Matcha leaves still must be carefully shaded, but some growers use machines to pick and process the tea leaves.
Jet mills, for instance, use a high-speed jet of compressed air or gas to grind matcha leaves. The process is slow to avoid friction, which creates heat that destroys the leaves’ delicate flavor profile.
Health Benefits
Matcha has a host of health benefits in addition to its wonderful taste. A 2023 review of the therapeutic potential of matcha tea by Qatar University found rich antioxidant content.
Additionally, the presence of catechins and EGCG in matcha provides significant health advantages, such as lowering blood pressure and promoting cancer-fighting properties.
A study published by RR Dental College and Hospital has even found links between drinking green tea and improved dental health and metabolic disorders.
Most teas – including sencha – are infusions. This means that you drink the essence of the tea leaves instead of the tea leaves themselves.
Matcha production requires the grinding of the entire tea leaf. This means you benefit from whole compounds in the leaves, not just the infusion they leave behind by traditional steeping methods.
Drinking the whole leaf gives matcha its stronger flavor, but the trade-off is the concentration of its incredible matcha benefits.
Flavors and Applications
What does matcha taste like? The primary flavor profiles in matcha are:
Umami- Often called “the fifth flavor,” umami is a unique taste caused by an excess of amino acids. You have likely encountered umami in foods like mushrooms, seaweed, and Parmesan cheese. Umami comes through the most in matcha with a rich, savory flavor that some have described as “buttery” or sea-like.
Vegetal - People describe the vegetal taste of matcha using words like “earthy” or “grassy.” The steaming process that matcha leaves undergo locks in their vibrant color and freshness, giving matcha this flavor.
Bittersweet - High-quality matcha is slightly astringent but balanced with a natural sweet earthiness. Lower-grade or oxidized matcha will be very bitter.
Ceremonial-grade matcha is for drinking. It’s made from the first tender shaded leaves of the harvest, giving it the best flavor.
Leaves picked during later harvests make culinary-grade matcha, which is used for cooking. However, because of its excessive bitterness, it isn’t usually suitable for drinking.
Sencha vs Matcha: How To Choose
In the showdown of sencha vs matcha, the ultimate winner is a matter of taste. What is your preferred flavor profile? What benefits do you want to experience from drinking your tea?
To help you decide, here’s a quick recap of sencha vs matcha:
Sencha
- Non-fermented, preserving nutrition
- Infusion from whole tea leaves
- Enhances cognitive abilities
- Steamed during processing
- Mellow, fresh green flavor
- Originates from Japan
- High in antioxidants
- Oceanic and fresh
- Slightly astringent
- Lower in caffeine
Matcha
- Lowers blood pressure, boosts metabolism and oral health
- Non-fermented, preserving nutrition
- Versatile in cooking and beverages
- Stronger, more robust flavor
- Higher caffeine content
- Thick, creamy texture
- Vibrant, green color
- High in antioxidants
Sencha vs Matcha: Magic Hour Has You Covered
If this guide summarizing sencha vs matcha hasn’t helped you decide, why not try both? You simply cannot go wrong when you set out to explore different types of tea.
Sencha is a mellow, earthy, infused tea, while matcha is a more ritualistic, thick, and umami drink. Both have robust health benefits and unique flavors.
Take a look around the Magic Hour shop and see if you discover a Sencha or Matcha that feels right to you.
If you’d like to discover other magnificent flavor sensations, take a few minutes to complete our Tea Quiz for custom-made tasting suggestions.
