Single Estate
Yame, Fukuoka, Japan.
Single Cultivar
Benifuki cultivar.
17 years old.
Black Tea
Organic Wakōcha.
New Harvest
May, 2022.
About the production process
Manufacturing
Withering – kneading – oxidation fermentation – fixing – drying.
Additional comments
In order not to damage the leaf too severely special care has been taken in gently kneading the leaf.
This allows the leaf to unfurl throughout infusion and gradually reveal its original shape again.
Join me on a visit to this tea farmer
About the manufacturer
To produce a healthy and delicious tea he tends to his bushes on a daily basis. As a result he has been able to obtain the price for the best tea from the Japanese ministry of agriculture three times now. His endeavor to guide people to alternative ways of consuming and enjoying tea has led him be receive instructor ship in a school of sencha tea ceremony and continues to study pleasant ways to enjoy tea in a contemporary setting.
About the tea garden
Yama-no-Ue
18 ares.
Tea Farm.
Altitude 550m.
Yabe is a small village in the mountains of Yame city in Fukuoka prefecture. The farms of Chiyono-en are situated at an altitude of 400 to 650 meters high. This is one of the highest altitudes for tea manufacturing in Japan. In summer the precincts are comparatively cooler as opposed to other regions, and in winter the farms are covered in thick layers of snow.
Soil type:
Red – yellow Loamy soil.
Direction and angle:
3% slope.
Ridge direction and shape:
East to west crescent shaped lanes of bushes.
About the climate
Climate:
Especially cool in summer. In winter the bushes get covered in thick layers of snow.
Surroundings and environmental circumstances:
The tea garden is surrounded by forest on all 4 sides. the morning sun reaches the bushes early. In the evening the sun disappears rather soon.
About the tea cultivar species
Cultivar details - Benifuki
Breeder:
Tea and vegetable Research institute in Mie Prefecture.
History:
Registered in 1993 as number #44. The mother of this variety is the Benihomare cultivar, which is a direct descendant of Assam’s native species, and was mated with the ‘Makura Cd86’ cultivar, a variety with Indian Darjeeling roots. It was chosen in favor its fermentation potential, producing a balanced black tea with aroma, color and flavor gathered together in a harmonious whole. When produced as an oolong it is said to have great potential for the production of the ‘Iron Goddess’ or Tieguanyin.
Growth:
Intermediary grower, 7~9 days prior to Benihikari. 1~2 days later than Yabukita.
Specifications:
Strong against most of the primary diseases common on tea bushes.
Suitable land:
Best suited for growth in areas with a mild climate, where winter colds are not too fierce.
Brewing guidelines
Suggested measurements for 1 portion.
Amount of tea
4~5g
Water temperature
98℃
Water amount
200cc
Steeping duration
2~3 min
Suggested no. of infusions: [3~5]
Additional comments:
A hotter temperature better extracts the tea’s delicious aromas.
View my introduction to this tea:
【Wakōcha】Yame First Flush Benifuki Black Tea 2022
$15.00
Silavie Thoenen (verified owner) –
Congratulation! This is a really wonderful black tea!
I love the sweetnees and elegance, no bitter taste at all…its full body and aftertaste is pur pleasure…i would love to buy 100g packages with a reduced price…
Scott Karakas (verified owner) –
Brewed western style for 3 minutes at 200 ° F (93 ° C). I was able to get four good, strong steepings. Brewed western style for 3 minutes at 200 ° F (93 ° C).. I was able to get four full-flavored steepings. Light, mellow, fruity, smooth and medium-bodied with no astringency. A truly elegant, delicious black tea!
Ryan Gonzales (verified owner) –
Delicious and easy to brew. It reminds me of the black teas from Sun Moon Lake. It’s floral like a top-grade assamica, and fruity like mixed berries. This wakocha convinced me to continue exploring Japanese black teas. I brewed 4 grams in a 100mL celadon gaiwan with freshly boiled water.
Feodor Tereshchenko (verified owner) –
Lilacs! Powerful lilacs aroma. Do they fertilize the bushes with freshly picked lilacs flowers? Excellent tea! And a very pleasant surprise. (Are there any haiku/renga/waka about lilacs?)