How to brew Japanese tea(煎茶)-Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo

Brewing sencha, Japan's most popular green tea, requires attention to detail to bring out its fresh, grassy aroma and smooth umami flavor. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to brew sencha:

How to brew Japanese tea(玉露 -Gyokuro from Shizuoka prefecture)at my home-Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo

These potteries are called Hagi ware(萩焼).

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Materials Needed

• Sencha tea leaves: 1 teaspoon per cup (about 3g per 200ml)

• Teapot (急須)

• Tea cups

• Hot water

Brewing Steps

1. Prepare the Water

   • Boil water and pour it into a teacup or yuzamashi (water cooler) to cool it down. This helps achieve the ideal brewing temperature of 70°C to 80°C.

2. Add Tea Leaves to the Teapot

   • Place 1 teaspoon of sencha leaves per cup into the teapot. For 3 people, use about 3 teaspoons (9g).

3. Pour Water into the Teapot

   • Once the water has cooled to the desired temperature, pour it gently into the teapot. Avoid pouring too vigorously to prevent bitterness.

4. Steep the Tea

   • For the first infusion, steep the tea for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Adjust the steeping time based on your preference for strength and flavor.

5. Pour the Tea

   • Pour the tea into cups in small portions to ensure even flavor distribution. Make sure to pour out every last drop from the teapot.

6. Subsequent Infusions

   • For the second and third infusions, use slightly hotter water (around 80°C) and reduce the steeping time to about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Important Points

• Temperature: The ideal brewing temperature for sencha is between 70°C and 80°C. High-grade sencha may require a lower temperature of about 70°C.

• Steeping Time: Adjust the steeping time based on the type of sencha and your personal taste preferences.

• Leaf to Water Ratio: Use about 1 teaspoon of tea leaves per cup to ensure a balanced flavor.

I learned how to brew tea at Jugetsudo Ginza store in ‘2025.

https://maruyamanori.net/sp/kabuki-za/store/

By following these steps and adjusting the parameters according to your preferences, you can enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of sencha.

Please book from here.