Food · Teas
Sencha Extract
煎茶エキス (Sencha ekisu)
Also known as: Japanese Green Tea Extract (Sencha)
At a glance
| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (for cosmetic use) |
| Japanese labeling name | チャ葉エキス |
| Common Japanese notations | 煎茶エキス, センチャエキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Camellia sinensis, steamed and rolled) |
| Typical functions | Food/beverage use (primary), Antioxidant |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Food regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. Cosmetic applications under the Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract JSCI entry. |
Sencha is the most widely consumed style of Japanese green tea — the everyday cup. Unlike matcha (shade-grown, stone-ground) and gyokuro (shade-grown, leaves intact), sencha is produced from sun-grown tea leaves that are steamed, rolled, and dried. It represents the majority of Japanese tea production.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Everyday Japanese green tea beverage
- Culinary applications
- Cosmetic tea extract category
What it is
Sencha is produced by harvesting Camellia sinensis leaves, steaming them to halt enzymatic oxidation, rolling them to shape the leaf and release flavor compounds, and drying. The finished leaves are a distinctive bright green and brew to a yellow-green liquor with a characteristic umami-plus-astringency balance.
Typical uses in Japanese products
In beverage use, sencha is brewed in hot water (typically around 70–80°C for higher grades, hotter for everyday sencha). It is the default green tea served at meals, offered to guests, and consumed daily.
In food and cosmetic contexts, sencha-derived extracts are handled under the general Camellia sinensis leaf extract framework.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Food regulation under Food Sanitation Act.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Food tea is broadly permitted. |
|---|---|
| USA | Imported and sold as specialty tea. |
| China | Imported as specialty Japanese tea. |
| Korea | Similar green teas (nokcha) exist in Korean tea culture. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification. Regional sencha brands (Shizuoka, Mie, Kagoshima, etc.) are handled as descriptive origin notes rather than as product names.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Related ingredients
References
- MAFF JAS standards — tea
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.