Organic Kabuse Sencha

This organic kabusecha from Wazuka is made from the Yabukita cultivar. The dark green leaves are shaded from sunlight for 16 days before harvest. “Kabuse” translates to “cover” in Japanese.

Located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Wazuka is one of Japan’s most renowned tea-growing regions, known for its rolling tea fields and cool, misty climate. The area is especially respected for its shaded green teas, including kabusecha and gyokuro.

Kabusecha is shaded for a shorter period than gyokuro, placing it stylistically between sencha and gyokuro. Shading the tea plants enhances sweetness and reduces astringency. Compared to regular sencha, this tea offers greater sweetness and develops a distinctive seaweed-like aroma when brewed at lower temperatures.

In the cup: a rich, savory taste with deep vegetal notes, sweet hints of anise, and a slight astringency.