ichiban sencha

type: green

origin: japan

variety: sencha

caffeine: no-caffeine

price level: $$$$

This is the first production from the all-important Kakegawa area within Shizuoka, Japan's most important tea growing prefecture. This bracing, lemony tea is an assertive example of the popular style of deep steamed (Fukumushi) Sencha. Dry Leaves: A fine mix of leaf filaments that are light green and powdery. This is due to the deep steam (Fukumushi) method of fixing the teas green. The leaves are subjected to an extra thirty seconds of high pressure steam that totally breaks up the tea leaf. Liquor: This tea is a light green, and it is a little clouded from from the fine leaf particles that are dissolved in the liquor. Aroma: Ichiban has a citrusy top note of lemon juice and is balanced by the dark vegetal aromas of spinach and nori seaweed. Caffeine Level: Caffeinated Body: As a very early season tea, it is loaded with amino acids. So this tea has more body than most green teas. Flavors: The style of this Sencha is bracing and lemony at the start with the mellowness of cooked spinach at the finish. It is among the most assertive of Senchas that we offer. The guttiness and astringency come from the deep-steamed production method. Brewing Time: 1 to 2 minutes Brewing Temperature: 160° F