While matcha has become widely known around the world, most tea enjoyed in everyday life in Japan is sencha. Brewed from loose tea leaves using a teapot, sencha may appear simple at first glance, yet it reveals a remarkable depth of flavor and aroma. In this article, we explore the nature of sencha and introduce Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu in Shizuoka— a place where you can fully experience its quiet charm.


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Sencha culture spread during the Edo period, shifting tea from something reserved for special occasions to something woven into everyday life. Preparing a single cup of tea is a familiar act in Japan, yet it calls for a subtle sensitivity. Lowering the water temperature slightly can bring out sweetness, while hotter water draws out a more pronounced bitterness.

The impression also changes with brewing time and the amount of leaves— even with the same tea, the result can be entirely different. Through these small adjustments, you begin to find a cup that feels just right for you. That quiet process, in itself, is part of what makes sencha so compelling.


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From Leaf to Cup

Sencha is made through a series of steps: plucking, steaming, rolling, and drying.

In spring, only the young, tender leaves are carefully picked.
Tea leaves harvested at this time are especially fragrant, with a rich, umami-filled character.

Soon after being picked, the leaves are steamed.
This process halts oxidation, preserving the vibrant green color and the fresh, grassy aroma that define Japanese green tea.

The leaves are then repeatedly rolled, allowing moisture to distribute evenly while gradually drawing out their flavor.

Today, most tea is rolled by machine, but traditionally, this process was done by hand— a technique known as “temomi”.

Finally, the leaves are slowly dried, forming the slender, needle-like shape that is characteristic of sencha.

At first glance, the process may seem simple, yet small differences in steaming time, rolling technique, and drying can greatly affect the final result.
Even today, tea-making remains a delicate craft, requiring careful attention at every step.


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“Tea Craft Through the Five Senses” — KAI Enshu

At KAI Enshu in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, one of Japan's largest tea regions, tea is woven into the stay itself, offered in a variety of forms that invite you to experience sencha more deeply. Within the property, you’ll find spaces and services where sencha can be enjoyed in diverse styles— each revealing a different expression of the tea.

In the garden, tea plants are grown on-site, and the view over Lake Hamana becomes part of the experience as well.

It is in this setting that a seasonal program takes place: “Experiencing Tea with All Five Senses,” where you can engage with the tea-making process firsthand. The experience begins with harvesting— picking fresh tea leaves grown right here, with your own hands.


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The freshly picked leaves are then brought straight into the hand-rolling process. As you work the leaves, sensing their moisture and shifting aroma through your hands, you begin to engage with a part of tea-making that is rarely seen in everyday life. Finally, you brew and taste the tea you have crafted yourself, right there by the tea fields.

By experiencing the entire journey—from leaf to cup— you gain a more tangible understanding of how tea is made, and how its flavor is carefully shaped along the way.

 

 

 

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“Blending Fresh Tea” — Crafting Flavor

Following the seasonal program “Experiencing Tea with All Five Senses,” another experience, “Blending Fresh Tea,” takes place— where you can create a flavor of your own by combining different tea leaves.

As you taste and compare teas from various regions and with different steaming levels, you begin to adjust the balance of sweetness, aroma, and body. Even the same leaves can take on a completely different character depending on how they are blended, allowing you to experience the subtle art of designing flavor.


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The Charm of Sencha

Sencha is defined by its balance of umami, bitterness, and aroma. Its character shifts with the way it is brewed, meaning that even the same leaves can offer entirely different impressions. After experiencing the process behind it, a single cup begins to reveal itself in new ways. For those familiar with matcha, sencha offers another perspective— a different expression of the depth found in Japanese tea.

If you have the chance, take a moment to explore sencha for yourself.
Within that one cup, you may discover another side of Japan’s tea culture.




Special thanks to: KAI Enshu
Official website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/kaienshu/