This brand is produced from bushes grown from seeds of a Yamato Midori cultivar. As this cultivar is a variety chiefly used in the production of sencha, only the later, coarser leaves are employed in the production of black tea, this resulting in a slightly more bitter and astringent flavor. However, since what has produced this leaf is a green tea cultivar, its aroma will, if compared with that of other black teas, be found to be clearer and more refreshing.
Technicalities
・Origin: Tsukigase, Nara, Japan (single estate).
・Farmer: Fumiaki Iwata.
・Cultivar: Yamato-midori seed-grown cultivar.
・Harvest: Spring 2023.
・Type: Organic black tea / loose leaf.
・Additional impressions: Slightly lemon sour as if it were a natural lemon tea; Honey sweet; Floral; Full-bodied; Refreshing.
Brewing Method
Measurements per person.
・Amount of tea ：3g
・Water temperature：100℃
・Water amount：150㏄
・Steep duration：3 min
Amanda Freeman –
What a pleasantly light and crisp mouthfeel! Not astringent or dry, the tea is like eating an orange, being slippery and smooth with an underlying brightness that really livens up the palate. The taste starts out nutty and a bit starchy, with a sesame and yam combination, this pretty quickly switches to mangosteen and orange blossoms with a lingering orange marmalade finish that sticks around into the aftertaste. It sticks around for several solid steeps, keeping my mouth very occupied by the enlivening citrus notes.
The tea fan (verified owner) –
A whole range of subtle tastes in this typically Japanese black tea. Highly recommended….if you start discovering the black teas with this one the other ones will pale in comparison.
Stephan Struckman (verified owner) –
Refreshing!
M.Nmb (verified owner) –
Pleasantly low in bitterness. Also tolerates 6 min and 5 grams for a pot.
Oskar (verified owner) –
I love Wakocha, for me it’s a japanese well kept secret. The flavor of this one is so lovely. Not strong or bitter, but very special. Amanda did a great job describing it, I cannot do it better. I do 5 grams for 200cc, 95ºC with 2 o3 brewings of 3-5 minutes or “fogettting it” for the last one.