ARIEL Chinese Sencha

Chinese Sencha is an everyday green tea in the best sense: fresh, clean, and easy to reach for at any hour. The leaves are pan-fired soon after plucking – a traditional Chinese way of locking in their bright, grassy character before it can fade – for a light, refreshing cup without the heaviness some green teas carry.

Tasting Notes

The cup pours a clear, pale gold and drinks smooth and mellow. There's a fresh, vegetal green-tea character up front – cut grass with a hint of toasted warmth from the pan-firing – and a soft, gently sweet finish. It's light-bodied and clean, with only the faintest edge, so it stays refreshing cup after cup. Good hot, and just as pleasant cooled down.

The Chinese Method

Green tea stays green because oxidation is stopped early. In China, that's traditionally done by firing the freshly picked leaves in a hot pan – a hands-on step that halts oxidation and sets the tea's fresh, grassy tone. It's what keeps this cup bright and clean rather than deep and malty like a black tea.

Brewing

Heat fresh water to 90 °C, just off the boil, and steep 2.5 g (about one teaspoon) for 2 minutes. Green tea turns bitter when it's brewed too hot or too long, so keep both in check; the same leaves give a good second steep.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Whole leaf green tea
• Formats: 90 g loose leaf, 1 kg loose leaf, 60 tea bags
• Certifications: Kosher
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation