Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha vs High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea

Unoxidised against fully oxidised: the single decision that separates every tea on earth.

Shizuoka First-Flush SenchaHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea

Measured comparison of Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha and High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
	Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha	High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
Caffeine	30 mg	50 mg
Serving	8 oz cup	8 oz cup (240ml)
Strength (per 100 ml)	12.7 mg	20.8 mg
Acidity	Low	Moderate
Category	Green	Black
Origin	Shizuoka, Japan	Assam (India), Ceylon (Sri Lanka) & Kenya
Best for	Teapot & mug	Teapot & mug
Water	75°C	98°C
With milk	Either way	Takes milk well
Tastes of	Fresh Cut Grass, Edamame, Ocean Breeze	Malted Barley, Rich Oakwood, Dark Molasses

Which one, for what

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

A hard morning startHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea carries 50 mg against 30 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 stomachShizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha is low acidity; High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea is moderate. Acidity is only part of why a drink provokes reflux, but it is the part you can choose.
Taking it with milkHigh-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea
Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha: either way. High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea: takes milk well.
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
Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha wants teapot & mug; High-Grown English Breakfast Black Tea wants teapot & mug.

sweetnessFirst-Flush Sencha noticeably higher

aciditymuch the same

bitternessBlack Tea noticeably higher

bodyBlack Tea noticeably higher

aromamuch the same

Comparative editorial positions within this catalogue, calibrated so entries can be ranked against one another. Not laboratory measurements.