Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations
Tea Description:
Sencha of the Summer Sun or 太陽の煎茶（夏） is the companion to Sencha of the Spring Sun, with a bitter taste that is strong at first. But the as the aftertaste spreads through you mouth, you begin to taste the sweet early summer sun shining brightly. Great for washing down oily meals (like summer BBQs…yum!).
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I think that the description above, while somewhat bardic, is pretty spot-on to what I’m experiencing with this tea. The sip begins with a savory bitterness, and as it washes over the palate, there is a bright, fruity sweetness that comes through. It’s really quite remarkable, this Sencha of the Summer Sun!
When compared to other green teas – or even compared to other Japanese Senchas – this Japanese Sencha has a strong, assertive flavor. I would categorize it as a full-bodied green tea. It has a fair amount of astringency to it, and some may find it to be too astringent (personally, I do not find it to be too astringent, but I could see how others might find it so), so I recommend steeping for just 1 1/2 minutes to start (175°F) to help taper the astringency.
But even though it is a bold green tea, I’m not finding it to be overly vegetative. There is some vegetal notes in there, sure, but it tastes more like creamed spinach to me than a grassy taste. Sharp floral notes that meld with the aforementioned savory bitter tones give it an umami kind of effect which then subsides into a lovely fruit-like sweetness.
A true delight, this Sencha from Obubu Tea!
