Kagoshima Sencha Yutaka Midori

Saw this tea discussed on Tea Chat when the 2016 batch was first released in limited quantities. Wanting to experience it myself I purchased 100 g and brew the tea in my Mini Shudei Tokoname teapot, 140ml.
I have limited experience with Sencha but can say this Yutaka Midori is everything the reviewers here describe. An exceptional tea.

I am reviewing the 2016 version of this tea which I still would say is fairly fresh like the rest of my Shincha. I would say this one is my favorite is has a really nice balanced flavor, vegetal and grassy with a mouthwatering sweet finish. Along with some mellow umami flavors and a tad of astringency.

Out of all of the ones I tried I found this to be my favorite and most memorable tea, one that I will for sure be buying more of in the future.

Just got the 2014 shincha yutaka midori last week and it is quite amazing. So incredibly fresh and flavorful. It is a shame that they are already sold out of it. I have had the normal sencha version as well and it is just as good. I’ve found that to get the best flavor, use about a teaspoon and a half in 170 degrees for the first two steeps, then much higher for the third. You won’t be disappointed!

I used 4g of tea in 4 oz. of water…

- steep #1 (68 deg. C, 60 sec.) sweet, chestnut, vegetables, umami…delicious taste…liquid is clear if the kyusu is not shaken during pouring, when I make one “swinging” move, the liquid is not so clear

- steep #2 (71 deg. C, 20 sec.) deep green broth, still sweet taste, grassy taste comming in, still full of umami…fukamushi shincha as good as it gets

- steep #3 (74 deg. C, 45 sec.) a little thinner brew, but still excellent for 3rd brew, thick soup, grassy, some umami still there

- steep #4 (77 deg. C, 80 sec.) this one is quite thinner, but because there is not much bitterness, it’s still enjoyable

Excellent tea, this year (2012) is on par, or even better as the 2010 tea.

Smooth green goodness. Bright first notes – almost citrus, the end is creamy.