Sencha Tea or Genmaicha?
March 31, 2017
When choosing Japanese green teas to make as our everyday staples, it’s only normal to feel slightly bemused at first. With so many types, flushes and flavours, which could possible be the best brew? The common Japanese green teas are Genmaicha, Sencha, Bancha, Kukicha and the highly celebrated Matcha. Let’s focus on the two more common types of green tea; Genmaicha and Sencha.
What is Genmaicha and why do they look like Sencha Tea with brown bits?
Genmaicha is actually sencha tea that has added roasted, unpolished rice into the blend. This explains the sweet, caramel notes that would remind many of us of popcorn and sometimes nuts.
Genmaicha is best paired with savoury meals and served after-dinner for its sweet and dessert-like notes balance the saltiness of most savoury dishes.
That said, it also makes a great morning or afternoon tea and while it contains less caffeine, this brew is ideal for anyone looking for a coffee substitute.
While Genmaicha is a blend of Sencha and roasted rice, the flavor of Sencha depends on its harvest season in a year.
When steeped with hot water, Sencha produces an unpleasant, astringent note. The best temperature to brew Sencha is around 80˚C for 3 to 5 minutes before removing from cup or teapot.
Sencha is best paired with seafood for its light and grassy, seaweed-like notes complement the similar flavours of steamed fish and other seafood dishes. Seared vegetables pair well with this brew too.
Some health benefits of Sencha tea includes cancer prevention and stress reducer. Hello, healthy!
With both teas bearing an equal pros and cons, all green teas contain L-Theanine, which is the cause of cancer prevention, treating anxiety and high-blood pressure. So no matter which you choose, you’ll never miss out on all the good benefits these green leaves has to offer.
Still unsure of what tea suits best? Discover your tea on our Discover Tea page that would help you find the brew that’s closest to your needs.
