Hon Yama Tamakawa Shincha

Origin: Tamakawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 
Cultivar: Yabukita 
Harvest: April 22, 2023 
Elevation: 200-300m 

The Tamakawa region lies in the upper stream of the Abe River. Tamakawa is one of the oldest and original tea growing areas in Shizuoka with nearly 800 years of tea farming history. Tamakawa is one of the top-quality areas of the Hon Yama tea production region of Shizuoka (high mountain region of Shizuoka tea). It is surrounded by dense mountain forests, clear air, pure river streams and abundant nature. The region has a blessed environment for making tea with its rich soil and the riverbed water of the Southern Shizuoka Alps. The large temperature swing from day to night forms fog from the flowing river that covers the tea farm that in turn provides natural shading for the tea bushes. This phenomenon results in the gentle yet deep taste and aroma of Tamakawa Hon Yama sencha. The soft sweetness and umami are balanced with an elegant astringency and complex aroma that is like high mountain oolong tea from central Taiwan, but at the same time unique to this region’s exquisite Hon Yama sencha. Due to the aging population and lack of successors in the mountain tea areas the production quantity is decreasing and the tea from this region is becoming very scarce and valuable. We chose the best batch of tea that was made in Tamakawa this year to represent the amazing character of Hon Yama sencha.

Add 6g tea to a small (150ml/5oz) kyusu teapot. 
Use water cooled to 170°F. 
Infuse for 45 seconds and decant. 
Repeat for another 1-2 infusions for 15 seconds.