{"product_id":"hakusei-white-star-hakuyoucha-white-sencha-hoshino-village-yame-fukuoka-prefecture-50g-2026-spring-harvest","title":"NEW Hakusei (White Star) Hakuyoucha (White Sencha); Hoshino Village, Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, 50g. 2026 Spring Harvest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOkuyame Hoshino-cha* Hakusei (White Star) Hakuyou (White Sencha) - 2026 Ichibancha (First\/Spring Harvest Tea.)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin: Hoshino Village, Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture; Takaki Tea Farm, Farmer Takaki Akihito \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultivar: Hakusei (\"White Star\"), a Takaki Tea Farm proprietary varietal, with the name related to their Hoshino Village, as Hoshino means \"Star Field.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*Okuyame means \"Deep Yame\", and Hoshino-cha refers to teas grown in Hoshino-mura (Hoshino Village), which is within the Yame City borders, but deep in the mountains. While Yame itself is known to be one of the premier Gyokuro, Kabuse-cha, and Matcha producing regions of Japan; the mountainous area of Hoshino Village is known as one of the premier tea growing locations within Yame City. The Takaki Tea Farm is an award-winning grower and producer of fine teas from Hoshino Village, and Takaki Akihito is the fourth generation head of this highly reputable tea farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHakuyoucha translates to \"White Leaf Tea\", but is not a white tea in the sense of the Chinese tea definition. It is a Japanese green tea, produced much like Sencha or Gyokuro, but with leaves that are \"white\" due to an albino mutation, or by sunlight control. The resulting tea also has high levels of \u003cem\u003eumami\u003c\/em\u003e, sweet vegetal notes, and low levels of astringency. Regarding the color, as seen in the photos the leaves and infused broth are more yellow than white, much like the color of a chamomile tisane. The spent leaves whiten up some, almost to the off-white color of tofu. The dry leaves have an almost chocolate-like aroma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea is best brewed similar to a Gyokuro, with low temperature and water amounts. A long first infusion of about two minutes gives a light saline \u003cem\u003eumami\u003c\/em\u003e, and sweet vegetal notes (my palate tasted soy beans), with minimal astringency. The taste is smooth and light through multiple infusions (I was able to pull five in more than one tasting session,) with astringency remaining low. This is a fairly rare Japanese tea, so I hope that those whose are curious will have a chance to try our limited stock of this special tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Yame region of Fukuoka Prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu is known for producing high quality Gyokuro and Sencha, but in relatively limited amounts. The region consistently produces teas that win awards at Japanese national tea competitions. A person living in Tokyo would find it a real treat to enjoy fine tea from Yame, and you can now have it here in North America.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Charaku Fine Japanese Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58413777813807,"sku":null,"price":15.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/9464\/8111\/files\/YAME.HAKUSEI.LEAF_1b4b73dd-2933-44f4-beb9-9c49d9203a35.jpg?v=1788303321","url":"https:\/\/charaku-tea.com\/products\/hakusei-white-star-hakuyoucha-white-sencha-hoshino-village-yame-fukuoka-prefecture-50g-2026-spring-harvest","provider":"Charaku Fine Japanese Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}