'Sencha' in a broad sense, is a term for the tea that is not made into powder, and which was transmitted from China since recent times, as opposed to Macha (the powdered green tea used for ceremonies) (steamed and dried before being stone-ground) which was established before medieval times.
広義の「煎茶」とは、中世までに確立した茶道における抹茶（挽茶）に対して、近世以降中国大陸から伝わった茶葉を挽かずに用いるお茶一般に与えられる総称である。