Sencha is one of the most popular teas in Japan, famous for its vibrant green color and light, refreshing taste. A glass of iced sencha tea is perfect for summer—a hot cup is best for winter.
Similar to matcha, sencha is made from the upper leaves of a special tea bush, called Camellia sinensis. Sencha tea has many types, like Asamushi, Fukamushi, Shincha, and Chumushi.
Like many other teas, sencha tea is good for you. There are plenty of scientifically proven sencha tea benefits for you to enjoy. We’ll tackle them all in this guide, so keep reading!
What Are the Benefits of Sencha Tea?
Here’s what a cup of sencha tea can do for your mind, mood, and body:
1. Supports Your Immune System
Sencha tea contains a high level of antioxidants, amino acids, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C that strengthen your defense against viruses and help your body feel and function at its best.
Extracts from green teas, like sencha tea, also stimulate the production of leukocytes, or white blood cells, according to a medical study. They help fight off infections and speed up healing from illnesses like strep throat, influenza, and the common cold.
So, if you’re down with a cold or the flu, you might even experience fewer symptoms or shorten the duration of your sickness by drinking this immunity-boosting tea.
2. Prevents Heart Disease
Another important benefit of sencha tea is that it lowers your blood pressure and improves blood flow, preventing excess strain on your heart, as demonstrated by a study.
This is all thanks to a unique plant compound that’s abundantly found in sencha tea, called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG).
Studies have also discovered that green teas, including sencha tea, reduce your LDL or bad cholesterol levels, protecting you from heart disease and stroke.
3. Fuels Your Metabolism and Energy
Sencha tea is an excellent choice if you’re looking to lose a few pounds. Its caffeine content increases your metabolic rate and stimulates your nervous system to break down fat.
According to the American Medical Association, caffeine can help you control your appetite, allowing you to stick to your long-term weight-loss goals.
The caffeine in sencha tea can also give you a boost of energy and alertness. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for whenever you’re feeling tired or sleepy.
4. Reduces Cancer Risk
According to a scientific study, various green teas, including sencha tea, have anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties and can help prevent lung, breast, liver, and prostate cancer, among others.
Sencha tea is loaded with potent antioxidants, particularly catechin polyphenols, which fight off unstable molecules, called “free radicals,” in your body.
Free radicals are harmful, since they destroy cells, damage DNA, prematurely age organs, and increase your risk of developing cancer.
Fortunately, the antioxidants in sencha tea are capable of binding to many of these free radicals and effectively neutralizing them.
5. Promotes Healthy Teeth and Skin
Did you know that sencha tea, much like other types of green tea, naturally contains fluoride? As a result, drinking it regularly can reduce cavities and plaque, and keep your breath fresh!
The green tea catechins found in sencha tea also have scientifically proven antimicrobial properties, slowing down the growth of bacteria in your mouth and improving your oral hygiene.
Your skin benefits from a healthy dose of sencha tea, as well! As mentioned earlier, sencha tea is rich in Vitamin C.
Vitamin C prevents acne breakouts, repairs damaged skin and helps produce collagen. Collagen stops your skin from sagging and wrinkling, keeping you looking younger for longer!
6. Boosts Your Brain and Mood
A cup of sencha tea can contain 12 to 75 milligrams of caffeine, depending on your variety and brew. Caffeine can sharpen your focus and mental clarity, as well as elevate your mood!
If that’s not enough, sencha tea is also high in L-theanine, a powerful amino acid commonly found in tea, which is scientifically proven to boost brain function and feelings of well-being.
Plus, L-theanine slows down the absorption of caffeine in your body, protecting you from its jittery effects and helping you avoid the awful crash that coffee can sometimes give you.
7. Relieves Stress and Promotes Good Sleep
You’ll experience the soothing and stress-relieving benefits of sencha tea before you even take your first sip!
That’s because this tea has a fresh ocean-air scent. Its characteristic aroma is often used in aromatherapy, which can ease stress, encourage relaxation, and improve sleep quality.
By simply breathing in the relaxing fragrance of sencha tea, you activate parts of your nose called smell receptors, which send messages to your brain that lower your stress levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does Sencha Tea Come From?
Sencha tea is a popular type of green tea from Japan, making up more than half of the country’s yearly tea harvest. It comes from the upper leaves of Camellia sinensis tea bushes, which are steamed, rolled, shaped, and dried. Some sencha teas are made in China and South Korea.
What Does Sencha Tea Taste Like?
Sencha tea has a refreshing flavor that can taste herbal, grassy, or seaweedy, depending on the type of sencha and how it’s brewed. Compared to Japanese brews, sencha teas from other countries can have a more toasted and nuttier flavor.
Sencha Tea vs. Green Tea: What’s the Difference?
Sencha tea is actually a type of green tea since it comes from the green tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Matcha is another type of green tea that comes from the same plant. Matcha is a stone-ground fine green powder, while sencha comes in steamed and rolled loose leaves.
Final Thoughts on Sencha Tea
If you’re looking for a relaxing and refreshing drink that offers a myriad of health benefits, sencha tea might be the one for you.
Its delicate flavor can remind you of springtime or a cool ocean breeze, and its vibrant green color will look great in any glass. You can enjoy it hot or cold.
Best of all, sencha tea is tea-rrific for your mind and body. It can boost your brain power, uplift your mood, speed up your metabolism, and care for your teeth, skin, and heart—all in one cup.
