Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Obubu Tea
Product Description:
Otsukimi (お月見) literally means “moon viewing” and is closely associated with Japanese festivals celebrating the moon in Autumn. It is at this time of the year when the moon appears brightest, and Japanese eat certain dishes such as tsukimi dango (round, white dumplings), edamame (soybeans), Japanese chestnuts, etc.
Our Otsukimi Sencha or Sencha of the Autumn Moon was named after this Japanese tradition not only because we harvest it in late September when the festivals occur, but also because the tea leaves and stems produce a bright yellow-green sencha with a round flavor.
Taster’s Review:
On the flavor guide for this tea on the Obubu Tea website, it suggests that the aroma of this tea “reminds you of a full moon.” Now, I don’t know if the aroma actually reminds me of a full moon, or if the mere suggestion evokes the image, but, I will say that the aroma is a pleasant one. Vegetative, but with notes that do remind me of the scent of the evening air on a clear night: the trees, the crisp breeze, and hints of flower in the distance. So, perhaps it does remind me of a full moon, or at the very least, a cool evening in autumn.
The tea brews to a rather murky shade of green, not an unpleasant color, but not the bright green that I often achieve from brewing a Sencha tea.
But do not let that sway you, because the flavor is delightful. It is rich and vegetative with a nutty undertone. There is an intriguing bittersweet flavor to this cup. Not a bad “bitter” – but a savory one that perks the taste buds right up and calls upon them to take another sip to experience the taste yet again.
The taste is very fresh and slightly grassy, which is something I’ve come to expect from a good quality Sencha such as this, however, this one doesn’t possess that sweet butter taste of some other Sencha teas, this one is more of a bittersweet kind of Sencha, making this an ideal choice for those who find that buttery feel and taste a little off-putting. The finish offers a very light astringency. The aftertaste is clean and lightly sweet with hints of flower and grass.
The tea has a very well-rounded flavor; very palate pleasing! Overall, a very enjoyable cup of Sencha!
