有機煎茶 (Organic Sencha)
Miyazaki + Kagoshima, Japan
It is no small feat when it comes to procuring a good tasting, good looking, affordable JAS-certified organic sencha from Kyushu island. The first lot of samples had all been turned down. While the best had the right flavour, stacking up well against our conventional sencha in umami and marine notes, the cut size and shape did not pertain the desired uniformity. "Leave it with me," Yoshida-san, our newly-appointed fixer avowed, "I will talk to the manufacturer".
Before my goosebumps had a chance to subside, a DHL package arrived at my desk. Pouring out the contents, I saw lush green, consistent blades of a generally unbroken first and second flush blend. Treating it with the customary 70C infusion, what resulted was a sweet and savoury nectar of the divine, the dewy sweetness of young komatsuna leaves washed in a light sea-water brine.
To get this balance took the combination of leaves from nine tea gardens - first flushes (34%) from three gardens in Miyazaki and second flushes (66%) from six different plantations in neighbouring Kagoshima prefecture. On this note, let us partake in enjoying the fruits of the loving labour of so many dedicated hands, orchestrated by none other than our new confidant, the trusty young phenom that is Yoshida-san.
Dry leaves: orthodox length, medium-thin cut, medium green
Liquor: jade colour
Taste: young komatsuna greens, marine notes
Process: organically grown, withered, steamed then lightly fired
Brewing:
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| 1tbs/8g | 70 | 0:30 | 1:20 | N/A |
