Sencha vs Matcha Green Tea: What’s The Difference?
By Lisa Bot | Published 10 May 2024
Growing Matcha And Sencha: A Simple Guide
Shade-Growth Matcha
Matcha comes from green tea plants grown in the shade, away from direct sunlight. This method, developed by Japanese farmers to protect the plants in winter, involves covering the tea with straw, bamboo mats, or vinyl tarps. This shading gives matcha its bright green colour and increases the chlorophyll content, enhancing its earthy taste and rich umami flavour.
Sun-Grown Sencha
Sencha, Japan's most popular green tea, grows fully exposed to sunlight on the slopes of Fujiyama.
The sun's energy helps sencha develop a vibrant green colour and a high level of catechins — antioxidants beneficial for heart health. The exposure to direct sunlight also creates sencha's refreshing taste and slightly sharp aftertaste.
Once harvested, the leaves are quickly steamed to stop oxidation, keeping their green colour and grassy, sweet flavour.
Texture, Taste, and Colour Differences
Matcha's Smoothness Versus Sencha's Crispness
Matcha is known for its smooth texture. It's ground into a fine powder, creating a creamy and luxurious feel in the mouth.
In contrast, sencha consists of delicate, whole leaves, giving it a crisp texture. When you drink Sencha, it feels like a traditional tea, clear and refreshing.
Whether you prefer matcha's rich creaminess or sencha's crisp refreshment, both offer a unique experience in texture that reflects Japanese tea craftsmanship.
A Spectrum Of Greens: Visual & Flavour Profiles
Matcha is a bright, almost neon, emerald green, signalling its high quality. It mixes into a thick, vivid green drink, combining vegetal notes with a slight sweetness and creamy umami. You can read more in my blog post: What Does Matcha Taste Like? Tea Vs Latte.
Sencha appears in lighter, yellow-green shades, indicating its subtler and softer flavour. It offers a grassy taste with hints of citrus or tomato, milder yet complex.
The different colours and tastes of these teas highlight their distinct growing conditions and meticulous production processes.
Nutritional Showdown: Matcha Vs. Sencha
Matcha’s Rich Nutrients
Matcha is full of nutrients, especially catechins and L-Theanine. Because you consume the whole leaf in powdered form, matcha gives you more of these compounds than you'd get from just steeping tea leaves.
L-Theanine, a calming amino acid in matcha, works with caffeine to help keep you alert yet relaxed, improving your focus without a crash later. This makes it great for those who need steady energy and concentration.
Plus, its high level of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) makes matcha not only good for your mood but also a strong support for your health.
Sencha’s Antioxidant Benefits
Sencha, too, is a powerful source of antioxidants.
The catechins in sencha, nurtured under full sunlight, are key to its health benefits, particularly for heart health. These antioxidants help fight off damaging free radicals in the body, protecting cells and potentially helping to prevent chronic diseases.
Drinking sencha can be a simple, effective way to boost your antioxidant levels, supporting your overall health with every cup. It's like having a daily health hero in your tea, providing protection and benefits in a soothing, enjoyable way.
How To Brew And Drink Matcha & Sencha
How To Prepare Matcha
Preparing matcha properly involves a few careful steps.
- Sift your matcha powder to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth tea.
- Heat water to 80°C to keep the flavours intact.
- Pour the heated water over the powder in a matcha bowl (chawan).
- Use a bamboo whisk (chasen) and whisk briskly in a W or M shape until the tea is frothy. This helps to aerate the matcha, enhancing its flavour and creamy texture.
This method is almost like a meditation and prepares you for a mindful matcha experience.
Expert tip: For the best taste, use soft, filtered water and store your matcha in a dark, cool place.
How To Brew Sencha
Brewing sencha is easy and straightforward.
- Use fresh, soft water to bring out the best flavours.
- Heat the water to about 80°C. If the water is too hot, it can spoil the taste by scalding the leaves.
- Put about one teaspoon of loose leaves per cup into a teapot, pour in the hot water, and let it steep for around one minute. Avoid steeping too long to prevent bitterness and maintain sencha's gentle sweetness.
- Pour all the tea into cups to ensure even strength.
This simple method captures sencha's pure essence, resulting in a refreshing and straightforward cup of tea.
Expert tip: Use a kyusu, a traditional Japanese teapot with a built-in strainer, for easy separation of leaves from the water.
Price And Accessibility: Which One Fits Your Budget?
Why Matcha Is More Expensive
Matcha is expensive because it's hard to produce and has outstanding qualities. It's grown in the shade, needs specific timing and care, and only the youngest leaves are picked by hand. The growth of matcha is limited to certain areas in Japan known for top-quality tea.
Making matcha involves several detailed steps: steaming, air-drying, removing stems, and grinding the leaves into a fine powder. These efforts result in a high-quality product that’s more about luxury and less about mass production.
It’s considered a special treat, rich in tradition and flavour, and worth the cost for those special moments or if you want the best green tea.
Sencha: An Affordable Everyday Tea
Compared to matcha, sencha is more affordable and easier to find. It’s less labour-intensive to make, which helps keep its price lower. Sencha is grown more widely across Japan, which makes it less exclusive and more affordable than matcha.
It offers a simple, refreshing tea experience, making it ideal for daily enjoyment, whether you're relaxing or need a gentle boost. Sencha lets you enjoy Japanese tea culture every day without a high cost.
Expert tip: Save money by buying sencha in bulk or looking for value packs.
Caffeine Content And Health Implications
Matcha’s Energy Boost
Matcha delivers a strong energy boost similar to a robust cup of coffee. But it's smoother thanks to L-Theanine, which helps you stay calm and alert without the jitteriness often caused by coffee.
Since you consume the whole leaf when you drink matcha, you get more caffeine than from other green teas. This means you enjoy prolonged energy, better mental clarity, and more focus throughout the day — without the usual mid-afternoon slump.
Matcha is perfect for those needing a strong, yet balanced, energy source.
Sencha’s Gentle Caffeine Effect
Sencha has less caffeine, making it perfect for those who want a mild boost. It releases caffeine slowly, which helps maintain alertness over time without feeling too wired. This makes sencha ideal for drinking during the workday as it keeps you alert but not overstimulated.
It’s a subtle way to enjoy caffeine that combines a gentle lift with relaxation, helping you stay refreshed and focused without stressing your body.
Expert tip: If caffeine affects you but you still enjoy green tea, try brewing sencha with cooler water and for less time to reduce the caffeine content.
Final Thoughts On Choosing Between Matcha And Sencha
Considering Health Benefits And Personal Preferences
When picking between matcha and sencha, think about their health benefits.
Matcha gives you a lot of antioxidants and amino acids like L-Theanine because you consume the whole leaf. This is great for boosting both your mood and energy levels. It’s ideal for those wanting both a mental and physical boost.
Sencha, on the other hand, offers a good amount of vitamin C, which matcha doesn’t have, and plenty of antioxidants, thanks to its exposure to full sunlight. It’s perfect for boosting your immune system and fighting off stress caused by free radicals.
Your personal taste also matters — whether you prefer matcha's creamy richness or sencha’s light refreshment, go with what you enjoy most.
Making An Informed Choice For Your Tea Ritual
When choosing your tea, consider what fits best with your lifestyle and health goals. Think about matcha if you enjoy cultural richness, slow-release energy, and versatility in cooking and drinks. It’s good for those who love cooking or are serious about health.
If you prefer something simpler, sencha might be better. It’s easy to make, subtle, and straightforward, ideal for daily drinking without much hassle.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and it’s about enjoying the journey that each cup of tea offers. Whether you lean towards matcha’s detailed preparation or sencha’s simple approach, pick what adds the most joy and benefit to your day.
