Received a sample of this tea with my Thes du Japon order. This is a good sencha, albeit atypical for a fukamushi. It’s not super grassy like deep steamed sencha tends to be but instead leans more towards gyokuro with its pale yellowish-green liquor and savory, umami flavor.
Dry leaf smells of raspberries and a freshly mowed lawn. Wet leaf smells of spinach. The first infusion is gyokuro-like with a rich umami flavor and light, earthy grassiness. Faint hints of blackberries and pine nuts as it cools. A deeper green flavor and color emerge in the second steep. More grass, umami, and steamed spinach notes with white pepper in the finish. The tea begins mellowing by the third steep yet still has a bright green flavor and a bit of sweetness.
Flavors: Berries, Grass, Nuts, Pepper, Spinach, Umami
