Mecha tea

Mecha

Type:	Green
Other names:	Bud Tea
Origin:	Japan
Quick description:	Popular after-dinner tea made from early leaf buds.

Mecha tea is a type of green tea. The name of Mecha (芽茶) tea derives from the early leaf buds needed to make this special green tea. Mecha is harvested in spring and made as rolled leaf teas that are graded somewhere between Gyokuro and Sencha in quality. Mecha are made from a collection of leaf buds and tips of the early crops.

Popularity

Sushi restaurants in Japan serve Mecha, known as Agari, with the meal. Mecha's bitter qualities make it a good tea to drink after meals to cleanse the palate.

Flavor and aroma

Mecha is renowned for its depth of flavor, considerable astringency and bitter green aftertaste. The distinctive, sharp flavor and aroma of Mecha is often regarded as being as good as the best Sencha. The best Mecha produces an aromatic tea with a clear, soft yellow appearance.

See also

• List of Japanese green teas