2010 Yamamotoyama Tokuou

This tea, along with a lot of other nice little things, recently arrived to my mailbox as a gift from friend and a fellow tea-lover who is in Japan right now and will stay there for the next few months.

Edit: This tea was later revealed to be the Tokuou from Yamamotoyama company, being a blend of teas from various regions, namely Uji, Kyoto (70%), Kagoshima (25%) and Shizuoka (5%).

After opening the purple-white package and examining its content, leaves of this tea are mostly short needles with quite a lot of dusty-particles, indicating that this is a Fukamushicha (deep steamed tea). They are mostly dark-green and shiny, though there are also some lighter leaves as well as small amount of stems.

These leaves smell fresh, nutty and light, though noticeably more intense than less steamed versions of Sencha. After being placed in a preheated kyusu, this strong smell even intensifies and pleasantly fills the whole room.

First infusion is light-green, yet opaque in color and very full and intense in taste; fruity and vivid with long-lasting spicy aftertaste.

Second infusion is already almost non-transparent and vividly green in color. The taste is significantly sharper, nuttier, yet sweeter. This tea maintains unbelievable green freshness, even reminding me of Shincha as a nice, nostalgic memory of spring, which I definitely haven’t expected to experience in this rainy, late September.

Third infusion is a bit milder, yet still very intense and sweet in taste. The sharp character of this tea is, however, replaced by softer, hazelnut-like tones, which dominate the aftertaste as well.

This tea is taken into one more infusion, which is similar to first infusion in color, yet already quite grassy and woody in taste with a hint of bitterness, which, however, still isn’t anyhow unpleasant.

Though I usually prefer Asamushi to Fukamushi Sencha, this tea brought back some nostalgic memories of spring – such as impatient waiting for Shincha and all the other things associated with it.

I like such teas with memories.

Thanks again for this enjoyable gift.