A harmonious blend of sweetness, bitterness, richness, astringency and fragrance-this is sencha. It's easy to understand why sencha is such a favorite beverage in Japan, not only for those seeking to quench a thirst, but also for those wanting to sip on something extra special.

In the morning or afternoon, before or after a meal, sencha is the perfect drink to revitalize your mind and refresh your spirit.

In addition to the regular tightly twisted leaves, sencha is available as a konacha ("flakes" from dried leaves) called Hanako. An interesting feature of Hanako is that it can be easily made by putting some flakes onto a tea strainer, and pouring hot water through it into a teacup. This same method can be used to easily make a large batch of sencha for an office or party setting. Simple and flavorful-such is Hanako!