Tencha Matcha Retail Tin

TEALEAVES Tencha Matcha is a ceremonial grade of 100% stone-ground green tea. Tencha are young tea leaves hand-picked from the spring harvest, traditionally shaded for 20 days under a covering of straw honzu and reed. Shading is followed by steaming, then drying in a brick oven called a tencha-ro.

Tencha Matcha can be consumed as ‘thick tea’ (koicha [濃茶]), where only a small amount of water is added to the tea to make it liquid. ‘Thin tea’ (usucha [薄茶]) – better known as a 'frothy tea' - has a higher water to tea ratio. Especially in the case of koicha, the palate quality is of utmost importance with the tender, sweet leaves deemed to be the highest quality (most palatable).

Tencha Matcha's vibrant green hue is indicative of the quality and newness of the leaves selected. This vibrancy also reflects heightened health benefits. These include a high level of antioxidants, as well as key amino acids that promote relaxation and well-being. Tencha Matcha is energizing, yet balancing.

The palate of Tencha Matcha is vegetal and slightly umami, with a smooth and velvety mouthfeel. This indicates the highest quality of milling. Through time-honored small-batch production methods, Tencha Matcha pays respect to the tradition and craftsmanship of matcha and Japanese tea culture.