|
Saemidori Tamaryoku Sencha - 2025 Shincha (New Harvest Tea). Naturally grown with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Origin: Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture
Cultivar: Saemidori
This Tamaryoku Sencha has has nicely comma-shape rolled leaves and a light grassy aroma. It infused to a light golden-green and medium body. Amami (sweetness) notes are up front, like honeydew melon, with very little astringency on the first infusion. Slightly hotter water brings out a little shibumi (astringency) and balance, but it still drinks smoothly with both sweet and astringent, but still very pleasant, notes.
Tamaryoku refers to the rolling method of production where the leaves are rolled into a ball, or coiled, instead of the more prevalent needle shape rolling technique used much more widely in Japan. The resulting "comma" shaped leaves often infuse to a golden-yellow or light golden-green tea. It is the common rolling technique used in the Kyushu Prefectures of Saga (Ureshino Teas), Nagasaki (Sonogi Teas), Kumamoto, and Miyazaki. It is also referred to a "Guri-Cha" (curly tea), most often in Nagasaki and Kumamoto, but both terms are used in different parts of Japan when referring to Tamaryokucha.
The city of Hioki is on the western coast of Kagoshima, facing out towards the East China Sea. It is a recently formed city created by the mergers of the small towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, Hiyoshi, and Ijuuin. Tea farmers there grow a variety of cultivars, including this fine example of Saemidori.
|
