Japan is extremely efficient in its tea production reaching yields of 1500 pounds per acre. Despite the fact that mechanical plucking is used, the tea made is generally considered the best green tea in the world. Interestingly, due to its northern latitude all the tea fields have large fans covering the whole acreage. The fans are turned on during cold snaps to circulate the air and protect the tea bush from freezing.

Sencha is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies marking events of personal importance.  For ceremonies marking ‘life altering events’, matcha is used. In this type of ceremony it is the ritual that is of paramount importance as the individual is being acknowledged.