Recently, more and more people are asking the question: green Japanese sencha tea & ndash; what it is and how to drink it properly.
The drink is popular with a wide variety of categories of connoisseurs: adherents of a healthy lifestyle, those who like to improve their mood in the morning over a cup of strong coffee, connoisseurs of real fragrant ceremonies.
You can drink this variety hot and chilled, morning and evening, to quench your thirst and raise your mood. This versatility is achieved by unique properties and a special procurement method.
What is sencha tea
Homeland of senchi - Japan & ndash; the land of the rising sun, family traditions and the hardest working people.
Perhaps these facts served to create a special way of processing the variety.
While all other tea leaves are fried to reveal taste and aroma, green sencha is steamed for one minute and then twisted into thin tubes.
This unique treatment avoids excessive oxidation and preserves the maximum amount of useful substances.
Here are some of the senchi you can buy from our online store:
Green tea & laquo; sencha & raquo; (Sen Cha)
Зелёный чай «Сенча» (Taiwan Sen Cha)
Green tea & laquo; Geisha smile & raquo;
Taste
Heat-treated leaves curl into the thinnest cups. They are so neat and fragile that they look like spider legs or strings. Breaking them is very easy, so sencha requires a reverent attitude.
As for taste, this variety boasts a pronounced fresh taste, with clear notes of green herbs.
A properly brewed infusion of the drink turns out to be gently emerald. It is worth deviating from the traditional method of how you can get an overly tart, even bitter taste and aroma.
Description of sencha green tea technology
It is the manufacturing process that allows sencha to remain truly unique in its kind.
As for raw materials, suitable bushes grow almost everywhere in Japan, but the best leaves are collected on the slopes of the mountains.
Protected from the hot sun, strong wind, saturated with fresh air, they have a special aroma.
The amount of nutrients in such material increases significantly, but caffeine, on the contrary, is produced less.
It is customary to harvest at the very beginning of spring, when the leaves are still young and tender. As mentioned earlier, they are not fried, but only slightly steamed and dried to maintain maximum taste.
The cups are then gently twisted. If you do this too aggressively, the product quickly turns to dust.
What is the difference between varieties from different countries
Japan was and remains the main supplier of this type of drink. But you can also find Chinese sencha tea on the market.
The key difference between them lies in the fact that in the PRC the process of preparing sencha is the same traditional as for other types of product. The leaves are simply fried there and then twisted.
Externally, both types are really similar, but the aroma and taste of Japanese & ndash; much brighter and more enjoyable.
& nbsp; Benefits
The unique technology of making a drink really allows you to save a very large amount of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids.
They, in turn, affect the body.
Some people who regularly drink sencha note the following properties:
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Improve overall tone.
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Empowering.
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Strengthening immunity.
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Improve metabolism.
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Normalization of the heart and blood vessels.
The amount of antioxidants in the leaves is so great that this tea can really be called rejuvenating. And considering how many centenarians there are among the Japanese, one can only believe this fact.
Cancer reduction
This effect is achieved by the very antioxidant properties of tea.
Free radicals that directly affect the deterioration of cells, under the influence of a drink, minimize their effect and are eliminated in an optimal mode.
The process of tissue renewal is improved. At the same time, the immune system is strengthened. A strong young body is more effective in combating factors that contribute to the development of cancer.
Fat burning
The benefits of sencha green tea also lie in its possible ability to improve metabolism.
& nbsp; Enriched with iron, it regulates metabolism, so that metabolic processes increase the effect on reactions that contribute to the burning of excess fat.
Any heavy food is better absorbed when eating the product, and the fatty substances present in it are & ndash; are being split.
As a result, excess weight can be significantly reduced, although simply eating a cup of sencha every day is not enough. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise and diet.
Boost energy
Toning of the nervous system is typical of any variety. Despite the fact that the amount of caffeine and tannin in this variety is less than in most other species, they are still present. And when combined with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, their effects on the body become mild and lasting.
Cheerfulness begins to be felt almost immediately after consuming sench and continues throughout the day.
For the same reason, you cannot drink too much of it, especially for people suffering from insomnia or neuropsychiatric diseases.
Low high blood pressure
The medicinal properties of sencha tea do not end with those listed above.
Some people notice an effect on the cardiovascular system, which is expressed in the normalization of pressure.
Mental stimulation
People who are intellectually active also benefit.
First, because it has a positive effect on memory.
Secondly, because the overall performance of the brain increases, including due to the good nutrition of its cells with oxygen, vitamins and minerals.
At the same time, the level of anxiety decreases. A relaxed nervous system works more efficiently, ensuring normal interconnection of all its departments.
Cholesterol lowering
As for these harmful substances, they can be washed out of the blood vessels. Naturally, against this background, the heart begins to work better, and this reduces the risk of developing most age-related diseases of the cardiovascular system.
To achieve this effect, it is enough to drink a couple of cups of sencha a day. The main muscle of our body will not receive any unnecessary load, so in the absence of other contraindications, you don't have to worry about the circulatory system.
Strengthening the immune system
Tea can have a positive effect on the functioning of the immune system from several sides:
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Promotes renewal and rejuvenation of the body, improving its overall health;
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Helps fight viruses;
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Reduces inflammation;
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Provides antibacterial care.
As a result, a person is more effective in fighting viral and infectious diseases.
Combined with good physical activity and proper nutrition, the product becomes a kind of source of health.
How to choose the right sencha
The widespread popularity of sencha has led to the fact that today there are many fakes on the market that are similar in appearance, but made by another method and from other raw materials.
They cannot repeat either the taste or the aroma of a unique green drink, so the choice of this tea must be taken seriously. Or you just buy sencha from the Russian Tea Company. We are the largest supplier of tea to Russia and work directly with tea producers.
Here are some of the senchi you can buy from our online store:
Green tea & laquo; sencha & raquo; (Sen Cha)
Зелёный чай «Сенча» (Taiwan Sen Cha)
Green tea & laquo; Geisha smile & raquo;
How to brew correctly
As previously stated, disruption of this type of product may result in loss of its unique flavor and aroma.
To get the same sophisticated drink, you will have to prepare it in strict accordance with the rules.
Ingredients
It is important to use young leaves made using steaming technology. Only they can give a bright taste, color and aroma.
But pay attention to the other component & ndash; water. It should be soft enough to allow the sencha to fully open.
It is unacceptable to pour boiling water into tea, which has its own taste due to the large amount of foreign substances.
What to watch for
Green sencha & ndash; special, which means you have to consider a few important points, in particular:
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Never use too hot or very cold water for brewing.
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Do not overexpose the product in the kettle. This variety has bitterness very quickly. Better use kettles & ldquo; gunfu & rdquo; & ndash; they will allow you to drain the infusion without overexposing the cups, and fill them with the next portion of water in a timely manner & ndash; high-quality tea can be brewed with a strait up to 3 times.
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Do not use milk, sugar, or other additives. They will interrupt the delicate taste, spoiling the tea drinking process.
It should also be noted that the Japanese variety is often used in combination with the folk dishes of this country.
Brewing process
The traditional preparation method requires consideration of several specific points. Be sure to complete all recommended steps:
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Use glassware or porcelain. Yes, it does not retain heat as reliably as clay, but it does not allow the cups to open too much, which leads to bitterness.
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Pour 200 ml of water into the kettle, the temperature of which is kept at 80-85 & deg;. For this volume you will have to use 2-3 grams of leaves.
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First, the dishes must be rinsed, so the first brew is drained without insisting. Thus, not only the dishes are washed, but also the leaves themselves to avoid dirt in the finished drink.
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During the brewing itself, gently stir the sencha so that a light foam appears.
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The process should not last longer than a minute, then the infusion must be poured into a cup, otherwise bitterness will appear.
It is allowed to repeat the procedure with one brew 2-3 times, but the taste will inevitably deteriorate.
How to store
Since this type of green tea is usually drunk immediately, it is prepared in small portions: literally for one or two cups.
Naturally, you will have to take care of the rest of the raw materials.
Delicate leaves can easily absorb extraneous odors, so it is not recommended to keep it in the closet for more than four months even if stored correctly.
Keeping the product in an open bank is strictly prohibited.
First, the air will oxidize the cups, make them dark, tasteless and absolutely & ndash; not useful.
Secondly, there is no hope of getting a unique tea aroma in this case.
Glassware is great for brewing, but it is better to store raw materials in a tin container with a tight lid. (You can buy them here .)
This material will keep light, air, and moisture out.
If glass & ndash; the only possible option is to find a secluded place where sunlight does not enter.
When to drink with caution
The benefits of sencha green tea can create a false belief that it can be consumed by absolutely everyone and in any quantity without harm to the body.
But all products of this kind require careful attitude. Otherwise, you may experience unpleasant side effects.
People with nervous system disorders should be wary of using sencha if their symptoms become excessive agitation, insomnia. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should seek further medical advice.
It is even better for children to give up sench, at least until they reach the age of three. Next, you should look at the condition of the baby, ask his pediatrician for advice.
As for the elderly, the product is not contraindicated in this case, although it is better to coordinate the number of acceptable cups with a medical specialist.
Side effects
In exceptional cases, drinking a drink can lead to undesirable consequences.
This is usually the case if the amount drunk exceeds the permissible norm of 2-3 cups. Then you can notice the following symptoms:
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Nausea, particularly vomiting.
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Tachycardia.
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Sudden changes in blood pressure.
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Excessive excitability and irritability.
It is worth noting that this effect is achieved only in the presence of dangerous diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous systems or due to excessive and uncontrolled consumption of the drink.
If you notice at least one of these problems, you should refuse to continue using this variety.
Sencha & ndash; it is one of the popular green teas with unique characteristics.
It can be a family favorite if you learn to drink it properly.
At least it's worth a try at least once, whether it's a professional coffee shop ceremony or a homemade tea party.
After that, you can make your own opinion about the product, become its next fan or treat it neutrally.
The Japanese would definitely call green leaves the best of the available representatives of the ancient drink, but we can only take their word for it or try the finest aroma ourselves.