Tea: Yame Sencha

Grower: The Kurihara Family

Origin: Yabe Village, in Yame, Japan

Cultivation: Conventional, Eco-Farmer Certified for low/no chemical use

Harvest Date: May 2014

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The lightest and cleanest shincha (first-flush green tea) of our 2014 collection. This one is created by The Kurihara Family from Yabe Village, in Yame, Japan. They've won awards for their gyokuro tea craftsmanship for many years.

The profile includes sweet grassy flavors, light and smooth textures, sweet potato notes and a fresh, clean finish. The tea has been stored in nitrogen-filled vacuum packs from the farm, preserving its freshness and flavor.

Grown at an altitude of 680m (2230ft), with the Yabukita cultivar. Lightly steamed.

This sencha is actually last year's shincha, literally "new tea", the first flush of green tea in Japan. After a long winter of hibernation, the tea plants have stocked up lots of nutrients. In the spring, their first growth of leaves is vibrant, energetic, and full of flavor, making this harvest very prized.

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Recommended Brewing Instructions: Use 1tsp (~2g) of leaves per 4oz (250ml) of water. Brew for 1-2 minutes.

- 140F for a very delicate, smooth tea with a sweet, light, and fresh profile.

- 160F for a fresh, sweet, grassy profile with perfect balance.

- 175F for fuller flavors with a more pronounced range of textures and notes.

This tea can be rebrewed up to 4 times, with hotter water and longer infusions.