SENCHA SHIMIZU OKU-YUTAKA GREEN TEA

A First Flush, or 'Shincha' Sencha from the slopes of Ryokuchi, Shimizu in the mountains of Shizuoka. The farm is on the island of Honshu. Shincha teas are the cream of the crop. The farmer, Yamamoto Kengo through the use of environmentally friendly techniques produces superb quality tea, which has a rich flavour and a strong fragrance. It is produced on the Oku-Yutaka cultivar famous for producing an infusion that is powerful but has little astringency. It is sweet and slightly floral with the desired 'umami' character that lingers for an age on the palate. Some creamy notes, a hint of toasted almond, sweet melon, a refreshing menthol tone with a cleansing grapefruit finish, all figure in this complex brew. Shimizu translates as 'pure, clear spring water'. The area is fed by the snow water of Mt Fuji.