Kyoto Sencha Syunsai, organic Japanese green tea, 60 g

I’m 4 (or 5, who’s counting?) bags into this sencha and I can’t get enough, this is one of the most enjoyable and complex Japanese green teas I’ve come across. In my opinion, this is right up there with what one would reasonably expect in competition-grade batches. I’m amazed by how well this resists turning bitter – I can put 8 grams in a 400mL thermos, pour 180*F water into it, and seal it up for an hour or two before decanting & drinking. The resulting tea is remarkably smooth with perfect clarity in the flavor profile. The body is very slippery and chewy with no abrasiveness on the palate, and there are clear notes of mushrooms, watermelon, cucumbers, and thick undertones of sea lettuce (a type of green seaweed, Ulva lactuca). The flavors are very layered and surprisingly intact considering this time & temperature combo approaches the polar-opposite of one might expect to work well. I, on the flipside, can’t get enough of this technique. This is the only way I brew this tea now. The cups it renders are so potent, with tons of flavor bursting out in every drop. If I lower the temperature, some creamy-floral notes seem to develop – along the lines of sea salt spritzed zucchini blossoms – so too does a distinct note of bee pollen, which really clings to the throat in the aftertaste. Such an invigorating experience. Every time I drink it I’m blown away.