Chinese Sencha Grade A Loose Leaf Green Tea

Chinese Sencha Grade A is a loose leaf green tea valued for something that is rarer than it sounds: genuine mildness without any loss of quality. This is a top grade Chinese Sencha made from middle leaf shoots — a deliberate choice that gives the cup a softer, more approachable character than teas produced from the youngest tips alone, and one that makes it an excellent everyday loose leaf green tea for morning, afternoon, or any quiet moment in between.

The sencha style has its roots in Japan, where steaming — rather than pan-firing — became the defining technique for green tea production in the eighteenth century. Chinese tea producers later adopted this same steaming method, combining it with the rich agricultural traditions of provinces such as Anhui and Zhejiang to produce a distinct style of Chinese green tea that is noticeably smoother and more rounded than its Japanese counterparts. The leaves are steamed immediately after picking to halt oxidation, then rolled into the slender, slightly wiry shapes characteristic of the style, before a careful final drying stage that sets the flavour.

The result in the cup is a clear green-yellow infusion with a gentle, naturally sweet flavour that is clean from first sip to last. There is none of the sharpness or aggressive grassiness that can put newcomers off green tea entirely. Instead this is a tea that rewards patience and correct brewing — cool enough water, a short steep — and offers a calm, refreshing quality that has made the sencha style one of the most widely drunk green teas in the world.

Because the middle leaf shoots used here contain less caffeine than the youngest buds, this Chinese Sencha Grade A sits towards the lower end of the caffeine scale for green tea — a quality that makes it particularly appealing to those looking for a gentle lift rather than a strong one, and to anyone who enjoys green tea later in the day without wanting to disturb their sleep.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, with one of the largest collections in the country — over 350 teas and infusions carefully sourced from the world's finest growing regions. Chinese Sencha Grade A represents exactly the kind of understated, honest quality we have always looked for: no drama, no additives, simply good tea doing what good tea does best.

Ingredients: Green tea.

Brewing Note: Chinese Sencha Grade A is a tea that rewards careful temperature control above all else. Boiling water will turn even a high grade sencha harsh and bitter, so allow your freshly boiled kettle to rest for three to four minutes before pouring — you are aiming for around 75 to 80°C. Use one heaped teaspoon per cup and steep for two to three minutes only, then remove the leaves promptly. If you prefer a slightly lighter, sweeter cup, err on the shorter side; a little longer will bring a touch more body and depth. This tea is best without milk, allowing the natural green-yellow colour and clean, mellow flavour to come through uninterrupted. The leaves will give a second infusion if you wish — shorter this time, perhaps a minute and a half — with a noticeably lighter and more delicate result.