Tencha is the leaf from which matcha is made: grown under shade, steamed, and dried without rolling. Ground on a stone mill, it becomes matcha. Tencha is never drunk as it is — it is the stage before grinding, and the name says as much, meaning tea for grinding.
Production
Shade cultivation covers the field for a set period before harvest to block direct sunlight, which raises the umami compounds in the leaf and suppresses astringency. Unlike ordinary sencha, tencha skips the rolling step, so the leaf structure is not broken down and the deep green and umami are retained. The steamed leaf is dried in a tencha furnace, then stems and veins are removed.
Why the distinction matters
Matcha's characteristics are decided at the tencha stage, not at grinding. A poor tencha cannot be rescued by fine milling, which is why grades of matcha are ultimately grades of leaf and of shading.
Sources
- 碾茶（デジタル大辞泉 / 飲み物がわかる辞典） / コトバンク
Supports: 碾茶が覆いをして育てた茶樹の若芽を蒸し、揉まずに乾燥させた茶で、臼で挽いて粉末にすると抹茶になること
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Chado (The Way of Tea)chado
The Japanese practice of preparing and serving powdered green tea, treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a beverage ritual.
- Wabiwabi
Finding sufficiency of mind within insufficiency and plainness; one of the root concepts of tea practice.
- Ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting)ichigo ichie
The principle that every gathering is unrepeatable, and should therefore be treated as if it will never occur again.
- Senchado (the way of steeped tea)senchado
A separate tradition centred on steeped leaf tea, with its own utensils and its own literati background.
- Matchamatcha
Shade-grown green tea leaf stone-ground to a fine powder, whisked into water rather than steeped.