This is a fantastic and special tea. It is unlike any other sencha I have ever had. The flavors this tea are subtle but never weak. It is sweet, umami, vegetal, and only very slightly astringent. This tea has a very hydrating mouthfeel, almost like it coats your mouth every so slightly. Hibiki-an’s blended sencha also has a long finish. I could taste this tea long after I finished drinking it, and it was wonderful. The best word I can use to describe this tea is balanced, Hibiki-an’s Blended Sencha is the best and most balanced Japanese green tea I have ever tasted. I highly recommend this tea!
Blended Sencha Super Premium
Blended Sencha Super Premium is a blend of Ohiwase and Meiryoku breeds of green tea. Both breeds of tea leaves are grown in shade for 5 to 7 days before harvest in order to bring out the sweet and mellow taste. Blended Sencha Super Premium is more sweet and mellow than basic Sencha, characteristic of Gyokuro. But, it has a more refreshing aroma than Gyokuro, characteristic of Sencha. When brewed, this tea is a noble shade of green like Gyokuro.
Ohiwase and Meiryoku breeds originally have a deep sweet and mellow taste like Gyokuro. Though most breeds of green tea have an element which can produce an astringent aroma, Ohiwase and Meiryoku are rare breeds which do not have this element and are never astringent. The character is accentuated by shading the tea leaves from sunlight just before harvest. Both are early-ripening breeds and have a subtle and delicate character which is a feature of an early-ripening breed.
Ohiwase and Meiryoku are both suitable breeds for Sencha, so they have not only mellow taste but also the refreshing aroma of Sencha. In order to create the refreshing aroma of Sencha, these tea leaves are grown in shade for 5 to 7 days, whereas Gyokuro is grown in shade for 20 to 30 days.These tea leaves are sprouts that are small and soft and not full grown. They are difficult to find even in Ichibancha, the first pick of the year. Although generally the best time to gather tea leaves is when the tea tree has five sprouts, these tea leaves are gathered when the tea tree has only two to three sprouts. So, you can enjoy the precious fresh aroma which is found only on young tea leaves.
If you like a subtle smooth taste and soft aroma, you should try Blended Sencha Super Premium. We are certain you will enjoy it!
