Sencha
Hoshino Hakusei

Contest Grade 99 P.

SKU
5431
Exclusive and extremely limited sencha made from the hakusei cultivar, only available from Master Takaki. Exceptional terroir in Hoshino, Yame; a town in Japan internationally recognised for its gyokuro and shaded teas. 40g
  • Hakusei: unique cultivar grown by Master Takaki after years of work
  • Bright golden and white needles with the typical sweetness and full-bodiedness of Hoshino teas
  • Mr. Takaki is a well-reputed tea farmer in Japan; Nihoncha and MAFF award-winner
  • From the famous town of Hoshino, internationally recognised for its shaded teas
 
Character Nutty and sweet, elegant, long-lasting
Tea Garden Master Takaki is an award-winning, fourth-generation gyokuro farmer, renowned throughout Japan.
Terroir Hoshino, Yame (district), Fukuoka (prefecture), Japan
Harvest 1st harvest (ichibancha), beginning of May, 2020, hand-picked (shigoki-zumi), exclusively the best leaves and buds
Cultivar Hakusei (100%)
Elevation 250m above sea level
Steaming Short (asamushi, 20 seconds)
Organic Cert. None, conventional cultivation
Laboratory Tests Radioactivity (Region 11/2019)
Awards Recipient of various awards including the 1st place MAFF Award (Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) and 1st place Nihoncha Award.
Grade 99/100 P. (sencha category); Contest Grade
€19.90
40g

Delivery : 1–3 business days

Incl. VAT, excl. Shipping

SKU
5431
€497.50 / 1kg
In stock

Tea Farm

Akihito Takaki is an award-winning, fourth-generation gyokuro farmer who is renowned throughout Japan for his teas, which are cultivated to the highest standards and processed on site. From cultivation and care to harvest and drying, the tea leaves are only passed through the hands of experts versed in the traditional means of producing Japanese gyokuro. Only the finest leaves are used to make the tea.

Character

Flavour 

A truly exceptional sencha unlike any other. This unique cultivar only grown by Master Takaki is a hidden gem. The hakusei cultivar (white star) produces extraordinary tea that has a nutty sweetness, intensely cream notes of nougat, soft toasted aromas and a subtle but playful bitterness that all come together to create a wonderful tea experience. Both the flavour of this tea and the pleasant memory of it are long-lasting.

Leaf

Extremely fine needles; characteristically short and ochre coloured for hokusei

Cup

Vibrant sunflower yellow

Sencha

Sencha is by far the most commonly cultivated and consumed green tea in Japan and constitutes the backbone of Japanese tea traditions. The leaves are typically steamed for 10-60 seconds, dried with hot air, churned, and via a multi-staged process rolled into flat needles. The flavour profile of sencha is very diverse and varies between sweet, fresh and grassy to robustly bitter. The region of cultivation as well as quality of the tea play a significant role in determining flavour.

Laboratory Tests

We go to great lengths to identify the finest organic tea farms across the world’s most celebrated terroirs. All our teas are sourced directly from the farmer and, with a few exceptions, are certified organic or come from pesticide-free farms. Each batch of tea for every harvest is tested for pesticides and other pollutants in an independent German lab to ensure they meet our strict quality standards as well as HACCP food safety requirements. Likewise, the regions of Japan from which we source our teas are tested for radioactivity for every harvest.

Yoshi En

Premium Organic Teas

Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.

Cultivation & Processing

The tea field is in a prime location right by the river in the Nagao district of the world-renowned village of Hoshino in Yame. This hilly region is famous for its deep, full-bodied gyokuros, which are masterfully grown and produced there. The leaves only come into contact with mindful hands at every stage, from cultivation and care to hand harvesting and gentle drying. Only the finest, long and intact needles are used. The soil is interspersed with small stones, which provides particularly favourable drainage and enhances the quality of the tea. The riverside location benefits from the moisture and mist released into the air from the river that runs through the village. Master Takaki uses purely organic fertiliser in only very little quantities, which makes him stand out from many other Hoshino farms. Only a few kilograms of this top kabusecha are produced each year.

Single Origin

This tea is exclusively sourced from the above mentioned tea farm in Hoshino. Sourced directly from the tea farmer.

Preparation

Brewing Guide

3 heaped tsp per 100-300ml (60°C) water. Steep for 2 minutes. Suitable for up to 4 infusions.

Packaging

High quality, airtight, resealable standing zipper pouch with 9 protective layers to preserve flavour and protect against oxidation and contamination. The tea is vacuum packaged according to the highest standards in Japan, with a small quantity of nitrogen added to the package to protect against oxidation.

Recommended Teapot

The ideal teapot for this umami-rich tea is a banko kyusu made from violet clay, with a fine ceramic sieve. This type of clay teapot brings out the umami flavour and reduces the bitterness of the tea. Although the tea will not develop as much flavour, a black tokoname kyusu can be used, which is a good all-rounder for preparing green teas.

Recommended Storage

Ideally store in a quality tea caddy made from cherry tree bark (wooden, kabazaiku chazutsu) or an airtight, double-coated metal tin.

Our recommendations

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