Honyama Okouchi Sencha

Okouchi is a small town within the Honyama tea producing region and is historically significant as one of the premium cultivation villages of tribute tea for the Japanese emperor. Our partners keep up with the rare practices of handpicking and light steaming with mountain spring water to honor the traditions of this prestigious tea region.

The mountainous valleys along the Abe River in Shizuoka have cool and foggy spring weather that provide a special quality of tea that exudes the phenomenon known as Yamano Kaori, literally “mountain aroma”. The mists shroud the tea bushes during peak spring harvesting season, which enhances the complex aromas in the tea and allows for gradual growth, concentrating amino acids and reducing sharp tannins. The infusion of this tea is lustrous with a lemony-lime vibrancy and glow, while the flavor and aroma are balanced with vivacious, springtime energy.

This mountain tea is one of the best shincha lots we procured this year.