Kabusecha

Kabusecha (冠茶), literally "Covered Tea," is a type of Japanese Sencha tea. Its name describes the fact that, about a week before the tea leaf buds are picked in the spring, the plantation is covered with a screen to cut out the direct sunlight. This shading produces a milder tea than standard sencha. The shaded tea known as Gyokuro differs from kabusecha in that it is shaded for a longer period: about 20 days. Special nets (kabuse) are hung over the plants to obtain a natural shade without completely letting out sunlight. Kabusecha Sencha has a mellower flavor and more subtle color than Sencha grown in direct sunlight.