Sencha

A Japanese term meaning 'roasted tea'.

The name given to a Japanese green tea made without grinding the tea leaves. The leaves are steamed for 15-45 seconds to prevent oxidisation of the leaves, before being rolled, shaped and dried. Finally, after drying, the leaves are fired to aid in their preservation and to add flavour. Sencha is the most popular variety of green tea in Japan, and exported Japanese teas are often Sencha types.