ShiZen Tea
The Sencha Journey Set: A Tasting of Japan's Four Great Terroirs
The Sencha Journey Set: A Tasting of Japan's Four Great Terroirs
Four celebrated senchas, one journey across Japan. Discover the cup that speaks to you.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Four Japanese senchas for learning the range of the cup.
The Sencha Journey Set brings together four 50g senchas from Yame Hoshinomura, Sayama, Kagoshima, and Honyama. Taste them side by side to see how region, cultivar, and finishing style change the cup.
Hoshino Shizuku 2026
A deeper mountain-grown sencha with clear sweetness, rounded umami, and a calm finish. Use it as the rich endpoint of the set.
Role: depth and sweetnessSayama Hatsuzumi 2026
A first-pick asamushi sencha with a clear cup, fresh green aroma, and a quiet crisp finish. Use it as the bright starting point.
Role: clarity and liftSaemidori 2026
A soft, vivid Kagoshima sencha with mellow umami and gentle sweetness. Use it to see the smoother side of first-pick sencha.
Role: mellow umamiKoshun
A fragrant single-cultivar sencha from Honyama, Shizuoka, with floral aroma and a distinctive finish. Use it as the aromatic contrast.
Role: fragrance and contrastSuggested tasting order
Start with Sayama Hatsuzumi for the clearest cup, then move to Koshun for aroma, Saemidori for mellow umami, and Hoshino Shizuku for the deepest finish. This order keeps the lighter cups from being hidden by the richer ones.
The set price covers the four teas listed here. If you are adding other teas, the checkout page will calculate the shipping rate for the full order.
A guided route through four sencha regions
Sencha can look simple from a distance: green tea, loose leaf, brewed in a small pot. In the cup, the differences are much more interesting. A mountain-grown Yame sencha does not move like a bright Sayama first-pick. A soft Kagoshima Saemidori does not leave the same impression as a fragrant Honyama Koshun.
This set is for tasting those differences without guessing where to begin. Each tea has its own full product page if you want the producer, cultivar, and brewing notes in more detail, but the set itself is meant to be practical: brew, compare, and find the style you want to come back to.
Who this set is for
- For sencha drinkers who want to compare region and cup character side by side
- For first-pick tea fans who want both bright and deeper spring cups in one order
- For gift-giving when you want the recipient to explore rather than choose one tea first
- For anyone building a small Japanese tea shelf around sencha
Simple brewing route
Use a small teapot and keep the first comparison gentle: 3g leaf, about 100ml water, and water cooled below boiling. Brew each tea once in the same way before adjusting. After the first round, return to the individual product pages for more specific brewing guidance.
Comparison FAQ
What is included in The Sencha Journey Set?
The set includes four 50g Japanese senchas: Hoshino Shizuku 2026 from Yame Hoshinomura, Sayama Hatsuzumi 2026, Saemidori 2026 from Kagoshima, and Koshun from Honyama, Shizuoka.
Is shipping included?
No. Shipping is calculated separately at checkout. The set price covers the four teas listed on this page.
How should I taste the four senchas?
Start with the clearer cups, then move toward the deeper ones: Sayama Hatsuzumi, Koshun, Saemidori, then Hoshino Shizuku. This order makes the regional and cultivar differences easier to notice.
Who is this set best for?
Choose this set if you want to compare Japanese sencha by region and cup character, or if you want a gift that feels guided without needing the recipient to choose one tea first.
Is the Koshun SKU-year being changed in this update?
No. Koshun is included as the current active Koshun product for the set. The Koshun SKU-year cleanup is being handled as a separate task.
FAQ
Q. How soon will my order be shipped?
A. We typically ship orders within 1-3 business days. In the rare event that an item is out of stock, it may take longer. If that happens, we will contact you directly to discuss the options.
Q. What is your return policy?
A. If there is a quality issue, damage, defect, or wrong item, please contact us within 30 days so we can arrange a refund or replacement. Unopened tea in its original factory-sealed package and unused tea ware can be returned within 14 days. Opened tea cannot be returned for food-safety reasons. Orders can be cancelled before shipment. Please see our Refund Policy for the full terms.
Q. Is this tea organic?
A. This tea is not certified organic. It is produced in Japan under Japanese agricultural standards. If you are looking specifically for certified organic tea, we recommend our Organic Sencha or Organic Matcha.
Q. Will I have to pay customs and import taxes?
A. For U.S. orders, import duties and related charges are currently handled by ShiZen Tea when applicable, so you should not normally be asked to pay customs charges on delivery. For other countries, customs duties, import taxes, or local fees may vary depending on your country's regulations and may be charged to the buyer. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure.
Q. Can I track my order?
A. Yes, tracking is available for all orders. Once your order has been shipped, you will receive a confirmation email containing your tracking number and a link to track your package.
Q. How much caffeine does this tea contain?
A. Yes. Like other Japanese green teas, this tea contains caffeine. The exact amount can vary depending on the tea amount, water temperature, and steeping time. If you are sensitive to caffeine, we recommend enjoying it earlier in the day.
Q. How should I store the tea?
A. Please store the tea in a cool, dark place, away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. After opening, seal the package tightly and enjoy it as soon as possible, while the aroma is still fresh.
Q. What payment methods do you accept?
A. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) as well as PayPal.