Description
Fuki-Mukashi Hachijyuhachiya (88th Night) Hand-picked Sayama Ichou Sencha, 50g - 2026 Shincha (New Harvest Tea). Naturally grown with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Origin: Hidaka, Saitama PrefectureCultivar: Like the Shourai 88th Night Sencha, the Fuki-Mukashi Sencha is also a special blend of hand-picked Fukumidori, Yumewakaba, & Yabukita Varietals. This tea was a Bronze Prize Award winner at the Japanese Tea Selection Paris (Grand Concours de The Japonais de Paris) competition in 2020.
Fuki-Mukashi ("Esteemed Antiquity") is a most special tea from Bizenyacha in Saitama Prefecture that we are proud to offer a limited quantity this year. The leaves of three varietals are picked from their nogien (naturally-grown tea garden), slightly withered, and hoiro-roasted (a special form of hand-roasting) to bring out the best of the teas' aroma and create a harmony among the three distinct varietals. Using low temperatures and quick steeps, one can enjoy different tastes over multiple infusions, ranging from light with a mild honey and grassy sweetness to more astringent, but all very smooth and balanced, and with good umami. I was able to pull six good infusions from this tea, and the infused leaves still had enough flavor to be used in a cold infusion and even a dish of ohitashi (dressed with a drop of soy sauce and eaten with rice.)
We are pleased to bring back Sayama-cha, teas from Southwest Saitama Prefecture, after a long absence. This particular tea is special as an Ichou (Withered) Sencha created by Shimizu-san of Bizenyacha in Hidaka, Saitama.
The techniques of allowing a short withering period and then mild roasting creates a tea that is still Japanese green tea, but starting to lean towards an Oolong. Some call these teas Japanese Green Oolong.
The annual tea harvest in Japan begins 88 days after Risshun, the start of spring on the traditional Japanese calendar. Drinking tea picked on this day has always been considered auspicious and believed to bring good health throughout the year. Often reserved for family and friends, this tea has naturally limited availability. Charaku Fine Japanese Tea is pleased to offer Hachijyuhachiya Sencha this year! This Ichou (withered) Sencha fromthe Sayama tea-growing region is a most special tea. We hope it brings you health and good fortune this year!