Lovers of authentic green tea have a deep appreciation for the intricate processes involving the creation of the perfect cup of tea. Although there are a variety of teas to sample, the discerning tea drinker will gravitate towards the brew that tickles their taste buds while the aroma tantalizes their senses. Quality Matcha, with its vegetal odor, might be considered bitter to some but there are many others who find it flavorful and complete. Is there any better way to start the day than with your own bowl or cup of home-ground Matcha tea? The Sharp TE-T56U-GR Tea-Cere Matcha Tea Maker can make this a certainty and with ease.
Tea is purchased in an aromatic leafy or crumbled condition, all ready to brew, but what if your main source of tea pleasure is from drinking Matcha? Well, this fine powder is the result of grinding the Tencha tea leaf. The leaves can be purchased already ground into the Matcha powder, but freshness is lost in the transit time. Once the leaves are ground, they begin to oxidize and lose their fresh flavor. Tencha may at times be difficult to acquire, so you may want to use Gyokuro in its place. Imagine if you were able to purchase the Tencha leaf and grind it yourself for an exquisite, fresh tasting Matcha right in the comfort of your own kitchen with the Sharp TE-T56U-GR Tea-Cere Matcha Tea Maker?
Tencha Tea
Tencha refers to the leaves of tea that are going to be ground up into powder for Matcha. Shaded tea trees produce more chlorophyll creating greener leaves and higher levels of nutrients, including Theanine (an amino acid), which gives the Tencha tea its mild and mellow flavor when brewed in the regular manner. It also has an aroma that is pleasing to the nose. It does not go through the rolling stages which break down the cell walls for easier infusion with water because it is used in the processing of Matcha powder. Only Tencha of the highest grade is used for whole-leaf brewing, and it is not always available. Tencha tea is:
Gyokuro Tea
Gyokuro tea is shaded and steamed like Tencha, but it then goes through the stages of rolling to break down the tea leaf cell walls for better infusion with water. It is then rolled to shape and goes into the drying process. The finished product can then be bagged or packaged loose, whichever the producer prefers. Gyokuro tea is:
Sencha Tea
Sencha tea is grown in full sunlight which encourages its speedy growth as well as its high level of vitamin C and tannin, which contribute to its sharp flavor. It goes through the same processes as Gyokuro tea: steaming, the various rolling stages, shaping, and then drying. Sencha leaf tea can encompass a variety of teas with brewed coloring that ranges from pale green to a greenish-yellow hue. As with most tea, the flavor will differ slightly with the temperature of the water used for brewing. Hotter water may cause it to taste more astringent, but with a lower temperature it can be very mellow. Sencha tea is:
If you want to know more about the different type of Japanese green tea, please see my other article which I list up all different types of Japanese green tea. Click on image below or click here to read
Gyokuro tea leaves are grown in the same conditions as Tencha tea leaves up until the kneading or crumpling process. They are both covered and grow out of the direct sunlight, increasing their nutritional benefits as well as refining their flavor. Even with the manner of processing Gyokuro, it can still be used in place of Tencha tea. The taste should be similar, but it all depends on the quality of the leaves. Through kneading and rolling, the leaf will infuse more easily with water.
Authentic traditional Japanese Matcha tea is made with a lot of labor. The milling process alone takes an excessive amount of time because you cannot allow the millstone to heat up, let alone the physical part of milling. If the millstone heats up, it will change the taste of the tea. The Sharp TE-T56U-GR Tea-Cere Matcha Tea Maker will mill or grind the leaves into the fine Matcha powder for you without overheating the stone. Sensors will detect the heat and stop the milling until the stone has cooled.
Here are some of the benefits of having the Sharp TE-T56U-GR Tea-Cere Matcha Tea Maker sitting on your kitchen counter to use at your leisure.
Q: Is using a machine to grind better than purchasing powder?
A: It is hard to say if it is better to grind your own, the reason being that it is very difficult to get Tencha of high quality. As such, your quality will be limited, but you will surely get fresh tea by grinding your own. It smells so good when you grind your own matcha (which is quite fun as a process, too).
There are literally no limitations to what teas you can grind and brew. Many people also use Matcha powder as a recipe additive for ice cream, donuts and just about anything you can think of. The Sharp TE-T56U-GR Tea-Cere Matcha Tea Maker not only solves the challenge of creating homemade Matcha, but it also puts more flexibility in the tea user’s hands, opening up many opportunities for enjoying Matcha powder throughout the day.
This article was originally published on T-ching where my work is featured
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When it comes to different types of tea, matcha and sencha green tea are two many people have questions about! Get answers in this post.
5 Essential Storage Rules for Matcha and Japanese Green Tea
Read on to learn how to store matcha the proper way to ensure that you get the most out of this ancient elixir.