Sayama Yabukita

Tea: Sayama Yabukita - 7470
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $7.00 / 50g
Source: Saitama, Japan
Vendor Description: Sayama tea processed slowly at a low temperature, which produces pungent aroma. Rich expansive sweetness combining fresh astringency is pleasantly natural.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea was well polished and shiny. The leaf was in very small pieces though, so small that the leaf almost moved in a fluid motion.

1st Infusion: The tea had a very light yet murky green color. The color of the liquid was a radiant bright green. The tea had a very light and sweet flavor. It reminded me a lot of the Yutaka Saemidori. The tea was medium bodied with a bold aroma for a sencha. The aroma was very sweet smelling and very enjoyable. There was a light clean sense of bitterness to it. Also in the tea were hints of taste that reminded me of gyokuro. There were also small hints of a seaweed flavor at the very front end of the flavor.

2nd Infusion: This infusion was much darker and murkier in color than the first infusion. This one was full bodied and had a very bold flavor. It had a medium sense of astringency and a strong flavor.

Rating: 10/10

Conclusion: This tea showed aspects of a number of different teas. There was a hint of gyokuro, a light sweetness, and then a strong rich boldness. I have a feeling that a lot of the versatility for this tea comes from very delicate brewing parameters. I see myself spending a lot of time experimenting with this tea in the future.