Rishi Tea
Rishi Sencha: the Japanese green that shows you what the fuss is about
Steamed, grassy, faintly oceanic and genuinely sweet when you get the temperature right. Also the tea most likely to punish you for using boiling water.
PS Teas earns commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. It costs you nothing and never changes a score. Full disclosure.
What it is
A steamed Japanese-style sencha, organic, sold by a company that is unusually good at publishing sourcing detail. Needle-shaped dark green leaf that smells like cut grass before it ever meets water.
In the cup
Sweet peas, sea air, a savoury umami weight underneath that is the thing green tea converts talk about. The liquor is pale jade and slightly cloudy, which is correct for a steamed green rather than a fault.
Brewing
175 °F, two minutes, two grams. This is not a suggestion. Brewed at boiling the same leaf turns sharp, drying and hollow; at 175 °F it is sweet. No other variable in tea makes this much difference.
Value
Mid-priced for a proper sencha. Buy small and buy recent: green tea fades within months and this one is worth drinking at its best.
The verdict
The tea that changes minds about green tea — conditional on a thermometer, or three minutes of patience after the kettle clicks.
Best for someone ready to control their water temperature and be rewarded for it.
What works
- Real umami sweetness, not just grassiness
- Organic with clear sourcing
- Second steep is arguably better than the first
What doesn't
- Unforgiving of hot water — the least beginner-proof tea here
- Fades fast; needs sealed, cool storage
Before you read the health section
Tea is a drink, not a treatment. Everything below is general information with its sources named, hedged to match how strong the evidence actually is. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it should not replace a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist — particularly if you are pregnant, taking medication, or managing a condition. Full disclaimer.