The Way of Sencha (Senchadō)

The Birth of Sencha In the early 17th century (Edo period), Zen monk Baisaō Kō Yugai (1675–1763), influenced by the literati culture of Ming Dynasty China, introduced a new way of drinking tea in Japan. Instead of the traditional matcha preparation, he promoted the brewing of loose tea leaves in a teapot, emphasizing the simple enjoyment of steeped tea. This practice laid the foundation for what would become “sencha culture” in Kyoto.  The Development of Sencha Culture By the mid-Edo period (18th century), as sencha gained popularity, steaming techniques for processing tea leaves became more refined. In 1738 (the third...