ZEN SALAMANDER LIKES TO START HIS DAY OFF WITH SENCHA

SENCHA- is a  Japanese tea specifically made without  grinding the tea leaves. The word Sencha means "simmered tea" Sencha is the most popular tea in Japan. The most delicious Sencha is from the first flush of the year, the shincha....."new tea' ( early April to late May)
The ideal color is a greenish gold color. The water should not be very hot for steeping or it will taste astringent. Some varieties expand when steeped and resemble leafy greens in smell, appearance and taste.. Japanese tea has a vegetal, almost grassy flavor (some taste seaweed like)
Gyokuru is a high grade class of Sencha. It is shade grown and has  an increased L-theanine
content. What is L-theanine? It  is an amino acid that produces tranquilizing effects  in the brain and is found in the leaves of Sencha.