碾ひき茶ちゃ

noun

tencha; powdered green tea leaves

Refers specifically to the steamed, dried, and deveined tea leaves that are stone-ground to produce matcha. The term 碾茶 (てんちゃ) is the standard industry term, while 挽き茶 (ひきちゃ) is a more descriptive, everyday name.

See also: 抹茶

• 碾てん茶ちゃを石いし臼うすで挽ひくと抹まっ茶ちゃになる。

  When tencha is ground with a stone mill, it becomes matcha.

• 高こう級きゅうな抹まっ茶ちゃは、良りょう質しつの碾てん茶ちゃから作つくられる。

  High-quality matcha is made from fine tencha.