Fukamushi Sencha

Fukamushi Sencha grows in the mountains and is picked early in the season. These prize-winning leaves are shaded from sunlight, making this a very delicate and sweet Sencha. In the cup, this tea delivers an intensity that is evenly balanced with a slightly floral nose scent. Top notes of umami with reminiscent of sweet pea and artichoke

This year we have been fortunate to secure an award-winning batch – sencha Saemidori. This tea has been produced specially for competitive tea fairs in Japan know as ‘Shuppin-cha’. Teas of this calibre are produced to showcase the skill of the producer and do not make up the large percentage of volume made by the producer annually.

Naturally sweet and smooth in taste, Saemidori varietal is gaining popularity with many farmers across Japan.

Harvest production for this tea starts at the end of April until the beginning of May – Ichbancha, with leaf plucked on the criteria of two leaves and a bud.

Our Saemidori Sencha is a deep steamed (fukamushi) which gives a fresh, sweet vegetal grassy note. Fukamushi teas have had a short history in Japan, however gaining popularity. Historically, deep steamed teas were developed to savour low quality crops that grew at lower altitudes or out of season, which are usually bitter in taste and higher level of astringency. Naturally, longer steaming process would causes more destruction to the leaf and oxidation of polyphenol. As result, the process makes the tea less bitter and astringent in taste, contributing to a much thicker cup.

Compared to other Sencha’s, Fukamushi sencha has a deeper vibrant green colour and provides a thicker taste with a full balanced body. The leaf has been plucked from spring harvest, where the leaf tends to be tender and soft.

Unlike commercial grade Fukamushi sencha, the tea leaves are not bitter nor astringent – the quality used are also used to make Asamushi Sencha.

This tea is incredibly fragrant and deep green, clear liquor is a testament to the expert steaming and processing of this tea. A notable freshness remains after this tea has been rested. In the cup, this tea delivers an intensity and evenly balanced with a slightly floral nose scent. Top notes of umami with reminiscent of sweet pea and artichoke.