Shizuoka Shincha Yabukita

Fukamushi shincha from the Shizuoka area, harvested in early May from Yabukita bushes. The leaves were steamed intensively during the process of completion of oxidation (fukamushi). This makes the leaves very fragile and often causes them to break. The tea then produces a full-bodied, intense, thick to oily infusion of fresh, tangy to peppery flavor with notes of pea and radish.

How to prepare Shincha

Use 5 grams of tea leaves for 0.5 litre of boiling water cooled to 65-70 °C, steep for 60 seconds. Infuse the second infusion for 30 seconds and the third for 60 seconds. Feel free to experiment with steeping time, water temperature, and the amount of tea leaves. You can also read our articles on tea preparation and water quality. These tea leaves are also suitable for Asian-style preparation, which includes multiple infusions: you steep 5 grams of tea leaves per 150 ml of water that has boiled and cooled to 55–60 ᵒC for 20 seconds, and in the following three infusions, you steep the leaves for 30, 40, and 50 seconds, respectively. You can also try steeping the leaves in lukewarm water at 37 ᵒC for 7 minutes, or in slowly melting ice.

Shincha = new tea

In Japan, tea is first picked and processed into the Aracha "crude" tea, which still contains all stems and leaves. Water content, though, is already reduced to 7 – 8%. Subsequently, teas from various varieties of tea plants are tasted and divided by liquor colour and taste. Shincha is then produced directly from a mixture of selected teas, the remaining Aracha is stored in cooling boxes. During final processing, teas are steamed again and the resulting moisture is about 3%.
Tea-growing regions produce various kinds of this tea depending on its processing method. Shincha is the only type that is made directly from fresh harvests. Other types of tea are made from Aracha, that is stored during the years in cooling containers.
Shincha with needle-shaped leaves is especially known from the Shizuoka region, Shincha with leaves shaped as small lines comes from the Kyushu Island.
Our Shincha is from the Kagoshima area in southern Japan (Kyushu Island). Its processing includes a typical phase of "deep steaming". This method gives it a sweet, slightly astringent taste, notably "spring" aroma and liquor of bright emerald colour.

Have a lok at out Blog articles:
Japanese green tea – in pursuit of umami.
Degustation Notes – Japanese Teas.