Kirishima Roasted Sencha

Description

Kirishima Roasted Sencha (霧島強火煎茶) is a stronger roasted Japanese green tea that is grown in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Made from Yabukita (やぶきた) cultivar plants, it produces a toasty and savoury liquor with smooth vegetal flavour. This tea is grown at an organic plantation that has full organic certification by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. We source this tea directly from the owner of the plantation. He is the owner of a small family-run business based in Shizuoka and Tokyo with over 150 years of history. They own small plantations in Kagoshima, Aichi and Kyoto Prefectures where they produce organic and traditional Japanese green teas. This particular tea comes from their small organic plantation in Kirishima and it was picked and processed on 25 May 2023.

The organic plantation that this tea comes from is located in the foothills of Mount Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyūshū. It is grown at an altitude of around 400m above sea level. As Kyūshū is the most southwesterly island of the Japanese four main islands, it enjoys a rather mild climate. But it can still get cold in the highlands, which are covered in snow in the winter months. The seasonality of the region requires frost hardy cultivars to be used, which tend to grow leaves slower, resulting in more flavoursome teas.

This Kirishima Sencha is made from the leaves of Yabukita cultivar plants. This cultivar is the most popular and widespread tea plant in Japan and Yabukita plants cover about 75% of Japanese tea fields. It was developed by a tea breeder from Shizuoka in the early 1900’s called Hikosaburo Sugiyama, but it was officially registered only in 1956. The well-performing Yabukita plants quickly proved popular due to their hardiness, ease of cultivation and tea flavours; with time becoming the mainstay of Japanese green tea production. One of the main factors for the popularity of the Yabukita cultivar has been the flavours that they are known for. These plants produce teas with typical savoury and umami grassy flavours and strong aromas that are particularly sought after in Japanese green teas.

When compared to our popular standard version, this more roasted tea is made from slightly larger later harvest leaves, making it a more affordable everyday drinker. The stronger roasting also imparts a very accessible character to this tea, specifically designed to appeal to a wider audience. An excellent choice to start exploring Japanese green teas, especially if you are more used to pan friend Chinese varieties.

When brewed, Kirishima Roasted Sencha produces a bright yellow green liquor with a lightly toasted aroma. The savoury and toasty taste is vegetal and savoury, with a pleasant creamy mouthfeel running throughout the taste. There are some mineral top notes, but the overall flavour is fresh and herbaceous. The aftertaste is on the lasting side, with a hint of dryness and an umami flavour.

It is best brewed at 70°C for 2-3 minutes and can be brewed 2+ times depending on your taste preferences.

This Kirishima Roasted Sencha green tea was first featured in our January 2024 Curious Tea Subscription Boxes.

Location of the organic tea garden in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan: