Types of Japanese Tea
Tea performance in Japan - is one of the most respected forms of art. Though tea performance is a rare experience even for the Japanese themselves, they like drinking it every day. What is more, tea is liked by the elderly generation and by children as well. Juices are diluted with tea too, to create a baby beverage. In earlier times only wealthy people and monks could afford drinking tea , but later on it found its way into every house, even to a pauper`s. As in all things, the Japanese have their own view on tea drinking process.
In Japan tea is divided into such types:
Sencha - is a counterpart of a green Chinese tea in Japan. A specific feature of sencha is its heat treatment: sencha is poured with steam. Mainly this type of tea is typical for Japan.
Bancha - is a separate, cheaper sencha variety. It is harvested at the end of August - beginning of September.
Kukicha - is similar to sencha, but also contains petioled leaves, and even twigs of Tea Tree.
Hojicha - ia an analogue to red tea in Japan. This type is made from bancha, but with the difference that in the end it is roasted in a porcelain pot at a high temperature, altering the leaf colour tints from green to reddish brown.
Genmaicha - is translated as "brown rice tea". Originally this type of tea was made up by the poor, who could not afford themselves drink tea to that extent as the rich could. Initially they put less brew into a teapot, then started adding roasted rice to achieve an intense taste. Nevertheless, the Japanese have the ability to make everything expensive, hence nowadays genmaicha is often no cheaper than sencha.
Kabusecha - literally means "covered tea". It is made in the same way as sencha, but while the young leaves are being produced, an awning is draped over the tea. Most of the tea is shaded, that is why the tea leaf obtains a tender and less astringent flavour.
Gyokuro - is a variety of kabusecha. The main difference from kabusecha is time period during which the tea grows being covered. Commonly, kabusecha is covered only within a week, whereas, gyokuro is covered for nearly 3 weeks.
Matcha - literally means "powder tea". It is similar to gyokuro in the way that it is also hidden from the sun for a prolonged period. This particular tea is used during all significant ceremonies and rituals.
Author: Hasan Al-Ammori
Translation: Juliia Klishch