Description
Kuradashi (Aged) Sencha. 2023 1st Harvest. Naturally grown with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers on the Kinezuka Family Farm.
Origin: Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Cultivar: Yabukita
Kuradashi literally means "taken from the storehouse". While a greater emphasis is placed on freshly harvested shincha (new tea) these days, the aging of teas has a long history in Japan and was appreciated as a way to conserve tea and to deepen the flavor. It is still necessary in the production of Matcha, but not so widely available for Sencha or other teas. Only select teas benefit from aging, and the skill of the farmer is also important in properly storing and aging the teas. The release of aged teas in Japan is anticipated by tea enthusiasts as a special treat. This aged Sencha has a rich green color and light forest aroma. The first two infusions have a rich buttery body. It is smooth and well-balanced with notes of both grass and melon, with a light astringent finish. We're happy to offer this expertly aged Fukamushi (deep-steamed) Sencha from the Kinezuka Family Farm in Shizuoka.
Tenth-generation tea farmer Toshiaki Kinezuka was a pioneer of organic tea farming in Shizuoka Prefecture, which grows the largest prefectural share of tea in Japan. Starting natural farming methods in 1976, his dedication and practices have continued with his family, and have spread to other farmers and consumers in the region. From the family's website, "It took three years of hard work before finally getting a harvest that met his standards for quality, but thanks to a dedicated group of consumers and collaborators, he was able to persevere through the first few years and fulfill his dream of creating an entirely organic tea company. In the time since, he has continued to study how to maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship while producing great tea. He has drawn other local farmers into the organic tea cooperative, and actively pursued the spread of sustainable tea production in Shizuoka, Japan, and the entire world. This practice now continues with his children and grandchildren."