NEW Yabukita Sencha; Kuma, Kumamoto Prefecture, 50g. Naturally grown. - 2025 SHINCHA

Yabukita Sencha - 2025 Shincha (New Harvest Tea). Naturally grown with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Origin: Kuma-gun (Kuma County), Kumamoto Prefecture
Cultivar: Yabukita

This naturally grown Sencha infuses to a golden-green color, has a light savory aroma, and medium body. The umami (savory) notes are are reminiscent of hard cheeses, and  amami (sweet)  and shibumi (astringent) notes are lighter in the background. It's smooth and very well-balanced with a slightly sweeter finish on early infusions and a more astringent finish after the second infusion. 

Kuma County is composed of several small towns and villages in the southern portion of Kumamoto Prefecture, bordering Kagoshima Prefecture to the south. Agriculture, including Tea Growing, Foresty, and Shouchuu distilling are the predominant industries there. The Kuma River runs through it creating narrow river valleys with ideal growing conditions for Japanese tea cultivation, especially high-quality sencha, tamaryoku sencha,  and kamairi (pan-fired) sencha. The Kuma district is the large tea growing region in Kumamoto Prefecture, which in 2020 raked 9th in Japan tea production among the 47  prefectures. Naturally grown tea, and WaKoucha (Japanese Black Tea) are also becoming widespread in Kumamoto Prefecture.