This tea by ITO EN is a rare one of a kind shincha tea from the Shizuoka region in Japan. The shincha leaves are hand picked and hand rolled into long and extremely fine needles, creating an experience which is exquisite for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
The hand rolling technique requires the highest craftsmanship of Japanese tea making. The most delicate of all ITO EN’s Shinchas, this tea has a pale yellow hue when brewed, and a soft taste like fresh spring green tea. The aroma is noticeably sweet and reminds one of wild orchid.
Shincha—”New Tea”—is a highlight of spring in Japan. The first tea picked in the spring, it is only lightly processed and destined to be enjoyed only during the months after the harvest. Because the tea plants have been dormant through the winter, Shincha captures an array of vibrant flavors. Likewise, the tea contains higher amounts of Vitamin C and the anti-oxidant catechin than regular green tea.
Shincha tea is grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan’s main tea growing region, located in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji. Shizuoka’s mild, maritime climate lends a mellower taste to this shincha (sencha).
