GreenCaffeinatedSingle Origin · Japan

Sencha Scent of Mountains

A high-mountain sencha from Kawane, Shizuoka

4.8 · 216 reviews
The Otsuka tea gardens in the Kawane valley, Shizuoka, Japan

Sencha Scent of Mountains

A cup of light green Sencha tea above a bed of dark green tea leaves, showcasing its fresh aroma and quality.
Black tea bag featuring "Sencha Scent of Mountains" label by Harney & Sons, 1 lb size, elegant design.
Harney & Sons Fine Teas- Sencha Scent of Mountains- Japanese Green Tea- Black and gold tin containing 4oz of loose tea

Sencha Scent of Mountains

$ 84.00
Select Packaging Type:Loose
Select Unit:1 lb. Bag
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Description

This Japanese green tea is a hit! The Otsuka family, who supply several Japanese green teas to us, did a great job with this Sencha. Sencha Scent of Mountains originates from Kawane, the highest tea region within the vast Shizuoka tea region. Although not as high as Darjeeling or Uva, it is high for Japanese tea gardens. The cooler air contributes to the delightful aroma. The body of this Sencha is lighter than other Senchas due to its lack of deep steaming. People love the delicious light vegetal taste and distinctive aromas. This brew remains one of the most popular teas at our SoHo flagship store.

Mike's Rating
2 Briskness
2 Body
3 Aroma
 Details: A high-mountain steamed green tea from the Japanese Alps.
 Dry Leaves: Forest green, medium-sized leaves.
 Liquor: The liquor is light and clear.
 Aroma: A lovely vegetal aroma.
 Flavors: The vegetal spinach flavor comes through clearly and strongly.
 Caffeine Level: Caffeinated
 Body: Light-bodied
 Brewing Time: 1 to 2 mintues
 Brewing Temp: 175º

Ingredients
Green tea.

Packaging Types

Loose Tea: Bulk whole or broken leaves

Tea Bags: Finely cut tea in paper bags

Sachets: Whole-leaf tea in mesh bags

Tea Pods: Single-serve pods for Keurig® brewers

Iced Tea Pouches: Large bags for batches of iced tea

Packaging Types

Loose Tea: Bulk whole or broken leaves

Tea Bags: Finely cut tea in paper bags

Sachets: Whole-leaf tea in mesh bags

Tea Pods: Single-serve pods for Keurig® brewers

Iced Tea Pouches: Large bags for batches of iced tea

Where it grows

Kawane, the highest gardens in Shizuoka

Sencha Scent of Mountains comes from Kawane, the highest tea region in the vast Shizuoka growing area. It is high country for Japanese tea, and the cool mountain air is what you taste in the cup: a clean, lifted aroma over a light, green body. The Otsuka family, who grow several of our Japanese greens, steam this sencha a little more gently than most, so it stays delicate rather than deep. That restraint is the point, and it is why the cup reads bright and vegetal, with a clarity that has made this one of the most popular teas at our SoHo shop.
  • RegionKawane, Shizuoka, Japan
Map of Kawane, Shizuoka, Japan
Kawane, Shizuoka, Japan

From our tasting table

We choose the cup

Every single-origin tea we list is chosen the same way, at our tasting table. We are a family company, now in our third generation, and we still taste every tea before it earns a place on our shelves. For our Japanese greens that means a long relationship with the Otsuka family in Shizuoka, built over years of visits and shared cups. We are not the garden, and we will not pretend to be. What we bring is judgment, four decades of knowing what a fine sencha should taste like, and the patience to pass on the lots that do not measure up.
In the spring of 2026, Mike, Brigitte, and Elvira traveled to Shizuoka to sit with the Otsuka family and taste the new season at the source. Kohei walked them through the year's lots, cup by cup. We have bought this sencha from them for years, and each visit tells us it still earns its place.
At the Harney & Sons tasting table, Millerton

At a glance

TypeGreen
Caffeine ContentCaffeinated
FlavorsThe vegetal spinach flavor comes through clearly and strongly.

Mike Harney's Ratings

Aroma
Body
Briskness

A high-mountain steamed green tea from the Japanese Alps.

This season's lot

The sencha we return to

Some single-origins change from year to year, a different garden filling the same slot. This one does not. We have bought Scent of Mountains from the Otsuka family for years, and we go back each spring to taste the new season before we commit. The source stays the same. What changes is the harvest, and our job is to make sure it still tastes like the cup you remember.

How to Enjoy It

A great cup of tea is a simple thing to make, but it's the small details that make it worth it. Good water, the right temperature, a few minutes of patience.

Water

Start with fresh spring or filtered water. It's nearly everything in the cup, and a delicate green tea takes on whatever's in the tap.

Hot

This is a green tea, so skip the full boil. Let the water cool to about 175ºF. Steep 1 to 2 minutes so it stays sweet and vegetal instead of turning bitter.

  • 1 teaspoon loose (2.5 g) per 8 oz cup

Iced

It makes a clean, refreshing iced tea. Brew it double strength, then pour straight over a tall glass of ice.

What Customers Say

4.8 out of 5 · 216 reviews

aroma worth savoringgrassy, vegetal flavorstands out among senchasmorning cup ritual
I've described it to people as 'it's like tasting the scent of fresh-mown grass.' One cup every morning is a must for my best day!
— Pamela B.
So far (10 years) I've only ever found tea I like better than, or even as much as, this, at a better price, in Japan.
— Natty
I steep it for about 2:30 at 160.
— Dan T.