Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha vs Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha

Same plant, same country, and a completely different preparation — one you drink, one you eat.

sweetnessaciditybitternessbodyaroma
Uji Ceremonial Grade MatchaShizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Measured comparison of Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha and Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Uji Ceremonial Grade MatchaShizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Caffeine66 mg50 mg
Serving2 g powder in 70 ml (2.4 oz) water8 oz cup
Strength (per 100 ml)94.3 mg21.1 mg
AcidityLowLow
CategoryMatchaGreen
OriginUji, Kyoto, JapanShizuoka, Japan
Best forWhiskedTeapot & mug
Water80°C75°C
With milkEither wayEither way
Tastes ofSweet Greens, Nori Seaweed, Sweet Cream FinishFresh Cut Grass, Young Greens, Sea Breeze

Which one, for what

Worked out from the two records above rather than asserted, so nothing here can contradict the table.

  • A hard morning startUji Ceremonial Grade Matcha

    Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha carries 66 mg against 50 mg.

  • Drinking it after sixShizuoka First-Flush Sencha

    Lower caffeine wins here, and at a five-hour half-life the gap matters more than it looks.

  • A sensitive stomachToo close to call

    Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha is low acidity; Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha is low. Acidity is only part of why a drink provokes reflux, but it is the part you can choose.

  • Taking it with milkToo close to call

    Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha: either way. Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha: either way.

  • Something to sit and pay attention toToo close to call

    Both score similarly on aroma, so this one comes down to which flavours you prefer.

  • Making it without special equipmentToo close to call

    Uji Ceremonial Grade Matcha wants whisked; Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha wants teapot & mug.

Axis by axis

sweetnessmuch the same
acidityFirst-Flush Sencha noticeably higher
bitternessmuch the same
bodyGrade Matcha noticeably higher
aromamuch the same
Uji Ceremonial Grade MatchaShade-grown in Uji, stone-milled to soft green silk, and whisked into a bowl of sweet greens, nori and cream.Read the full page Shizuoka First-Flush SenchaCut grass, a little sea air and a sweet, savory finish: spring sencha from the tea fields of Shizuoka.Read the full page

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