Matcha Hekisui

Origin: Uji, Kyoto, Japan 
Cultivar: Asahi, Samidori, Saemidori, others 
Harvest: May 2018, 2019, 2020, and older vintages 
Elevation: 15-105m 

Hekisui 碧翠 translates as blue-green or sapphire green jade precious stone. It is one of the most amazing matcha grades we import from Uji made by one of our old friends Hisaki Horii who is an 8th generation gyokuro and matcha producer. He is running his family’s Uji, Kyoto-based tea business Hekisuien, which was established in 1867. Only prestigious lots of hand-picked tencha from the Joyo area of Uji are selected to create this premium matcha. Mr. Horii’s philosophy and specialization is not focused on the single cultivar but on blending various cultivars of exceptional quality, richness and traditional vintage aging. Each year his allocations are using different materials and vintages while his expression of superb quality is consistently amazing. His style of producing high-end matcha and gyokuro utilizes only local Uji cultivars that are hand-picked and shaded by tana frame-and-thatch. The lovely blue-green color of this matcha showcases the meticulous cultivation and care of production. The energy of this matcha is fantastic, and the taste of this selection is particularly special and vibrant with lots of umami and some floral gyokuro notes. Hekisui Matcha is amongst the top class Uji matcha, only rivaled by Houju (happy treasure) which is also made by Mr. Horii.

Traditional Preparation

Sift 1 tsp (2g) into a chawan 
Add 2.5 oz (75ml) water at 170°F (75°C) 
Use a chasen to whip into a smooth, rich foam