Sanpin-cha (jasmine tea)
さんぴん茶Sanpin-cha, from the Chinese xiangpian (香片)DrinkYear-round
Sanpin-cha is Okinawa's everyday jasmine tea. It starts from a semi-fermented tea scented with jasmine flowers, supermarkets and konbini across the prefecture sell it chilled in cans and bottles, and the name comes from xiangpian, the Chinese word for jasmine tea.
Ordinary jasmine tea is green tea scented with jasmine. Japanese Wikipedia notes that sanpin-cha starts from a semi-fermented tea instead, and that the more fully fermented version is called seimei-cha. The name is an Okinawan reshaping of 香片茶 (xiangpian-cha, literally 'fragrant slice tea'), which is the Chinese name for jasmine tea.
Supermarkets and konbini sell it in cartons and plastic bottles. It is also the base for Naha's whipped ceremonial tea, bukubuku-cha, and bars mix it with awamori as sanpin-cha-wari.
Worth knowing
- Buy a bottle at a konbini to refill your bidon on a hot ride.
FAQ
Quick answers about Sanpin-cha (jasmine tea)よくある質問
What is sanpin-cha?
Sanpin-cha is Okinawan jasmine tea. It is made from a semi-fermented tea scented with jasmine, the name comes from 香片茶 (xiangpian-cha), the Chinese word for jasmine tea, and Okinawan supermarkets and konbini sell it in cans and bottles.
Does sanpin-cha have caffeine?
Yes. Sanpin-cha is made from tea leaves, so it contains caffeine like other teas.
How do you order Sanpin-cha (jasmine tea)?
Pick up a bottle or can from any konbini fridge, or ask for sanpin-cha (さんぴん茶) at a shokudo or café. At a bar, order sanpin-cha-wari for awamori cut with jasmine tea.
Is there a vegetarian Sanpin-cha (jasmine tea)?
Yes. Sanpin-cha is tea scented with jasmine.
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