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Shincha
Shincha FAQ's
What's The Difference Between Shincha and Sencha?
Understanding the difference between shincha and sencha can be confusing. To clarify, all shincha is a type of sencha, but not all sencha is shincha. Here's the key distinction:
Sencha green tea is typically harvested multiple times each year, with the first harvest generally recognized as the highest quality. Most of this initial harvest is stored in a cold environment, allowing it to be distributed fresh throughout the year as it is taken out of storage and repackaged.
However, a specific portion of this first harvest is immediately sold and not stored—this is what is known as shincha. Shincha is prized for its freshness and is available only once a year, directly after harvest.
Is shincha better than first harvest sencha?
The question of whether shincha is better than first harvest sencha doesn't have a straightforward answer. While shincha is undoubtedly the freshest form of green tea available, since it is sold immediately after harvesting without undergoing cold storage, this doesn't necessarily make it superior. The cold storage process can alter the characteristics of the tea, sometimes enhancing and sometimes diminishing its qualities depending on personal taste preferences.
Shincha tends to have a bolder flavor compared to regular first harvest sencha, which often becomes milder after the storage period. While we cannot definitively say that one is better than the other, it is clear that many customers eagerly await shincha arrival each year, seeking the unparalleled freshness it offers.
(FAQs continued at bottom of page below the products)
2024 Shincha Releases:
Note: Every green tea located under this category is considered shincha at this time even if it doesn't specifically say the word shincha, or only has the word sencha in its title. This will remain the case until around the middle or end of June. The following teas have been released this year so far in the shincha form.
If you would like to be notified when a shincha comes into stock, navigate to the product and enter your email address into the "notify me when back in stock" area.
April 26, 2024 - Sae Midori
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- Expected on May 7, 2024
- A Tsuen Tea!
- Shincha!
Uji Shincha Kirameki
En rupture de stockWe're excited to offer the exclusive Uji Shincha Kirameki from the historic Tsuen Tea Shop, Japan’s oldest teashop, nestled on the scenic banks of the Uji River for over 860 years. Unlike our other teas, the Kirameki is a once-a-year treat during shincha season, and once it’s gone, you’ll have to wait until next year to get more. After shincha season, Tsuen Tea introduces a similar, yet not identical, blend called Ujibashi San no Ma, but there’s something truly special about the Kirameki.
Crafted from select 100% Uji-grown Yabukita leaves from the first harvest, this lightly steamed sencha (asamushi) captivates with its fresh, grassy aroma and elegant flavor. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the finest Japanese green teas available.
Snag your 100-gram package now and savor the unique delights of shincha season!- Expected on Apr 30, 2024
- A Tsuen Tea!
- Shincha!
Uji Shincha Aoi
En rupture de stockWe're thrilled to bring you the exceptional Uji Shincha "Aoi" from Tsuen Tea, the oldest teashop in Japan. This exquisite sencha is crafted from first-harvest yabukita leaves and ranks as Tsuen's second highest sencha, right behind their famous San no Ma. Lightly steamed to perfection, the "Aoi" offers a delightful, grassy aroma that captures the essence of spring. This is your chance to savor some of the finest Japanese green tea, direct from the picturesque banks of the Uji River.
Available in handy 100-gram packages—don't miss out on this stellar brew!- Nouveau
- Popular!
- Shincha!
Sae Midori Sencha
Sorry, we only have 113 of that item available- Expected on May 10, 2024
- Shincha!
Yutaka Midori Shincha
En rupture de stockWe’re proud to have been probably the first online tea shop to bring Yutaka Midori to tea lovers around the world! This fabulous shincha, harvested in the lush Kagoshima prefecture at the southern tip of Japan, quickly became a favorite and has stayed at the top of the charts ever since.
Yutaka Midori is known for its vibrant green tea qualities. We invite you to compare this sencha with any others you find online—you'll be amazed by its deep emerald color, delightful aroma, and superb taste. Don't miss out on trying one of our most beloved green teas!
Grab a 100-gram package today and taste the difference for yourself!- Expected on May 10, 2024
- Shincha!
- Coming Soon!
Kaoru Fukamushi Sencha
En rupture de stock- Expected on May 15, 2024
- Shincha!
Deep Steamed Shincha Kaoru
En rupture de stockMeet Fukamushi Shincha "Kaoru" - a top-tier, first flush green tea that's sure to impress. Harvested from the young, vibrant spring leaves in the renowned Makinohara district of Shizuoka Prefecture, this 100% Yabukita brew is a showstopper. It's exceptionally green and thick, with a fresh, grassy aroma that's a bit more intense than your typical deep-steamed green tea. Plus, its taste lingers delightfully long after each sip.
Brewing it is a breeze (though a teapot for fukamushi-cha is recommended). Just remember to keep it cool—don't brew it too hot, too long to keep its flavors perfect. Like all our teas, it's packed fresh in nitrogen-filled bags to ensure maximum freshness.
Grab a 100-gram package and get ready for an unforgettable tea experience!- Expected on May 10, 2024
- Shincha!
Chiran Shincha
En rupture de stockGet ready for a real treat with this year's harvest—it's beautifully balanced, bursting with flavor, and has a fantastic aroma and mouthfeel. We’re talking about a special shincha straight from the historic samurai town of Chiran, at the southern tip of Kagoshima, Japan. This delightful Chiran Sencha comes from the renowned Yabukita green tea plant. It’s super aromatic and utterly delicious! Why not treat yourself to some today?
Grab it in convenient 100-gram packages. Perfect for enjoying a fresh cup whenever you like!
Best-sellers
- Popular!
- Shincha!
- Nouveau
- Shincha!
- Expected on May 10, 2024
- A Tsuen Tea!
- Shincha!
- Expected on May 7, 2024
When is Shincha available?
It's available from harvest in late April through usually June, as supplies permit. Quite often the tea we are selling in June is actually shincha though not labelled as such.
Shincha green teas are released one by one. To be notified by email the moment any of the following shincha come into stock, navigate to the product and click on the "Notify Me When Back in Stock" button.
What about "shincha" gyokuro and matcha?
Shade-grown gyokuro and matcha leaves are typically harvested in May, aligning with the timing for the first harvest of traditional sencha. However, these varieties of tea usually undergo several months of aging to enhance their flavors, which consequently delays their market release until the autumn season. If these teas are consumed prior to this aging process, they exhibit a markedly pronounced "green" taste.
During the summer months, it is customary for producers to blend the current year's gyokuro with leaves from the previous harvest, particularly in instances where there is a shortage of older stock that must be extended until the fall. Although these teas remain suitable for consumption, they do not represent the peak quality of fresh harvests and thus are not categorized as true "shincha."
At O-Cha.com, we opt not to market our products as "shincha matcha" or "shincha gyokuro," as these teas are valued not for their immediacy but for their matured, robust flavors.