Sencha Shinrikyu

Tea: Sencha Shinrikyu
Vendor: The Tao of Tea
Price: $3.25 / 0z.
Source: Japan
Vendor Description: Among the very best and affordable of the early season green teas. This April sencha is made from a fine leaf grade possessing a polished, deep green appearance and rich, intense aroma. Infusions of Sencha Shinrikyu have a sweet, green fragrance and a tantalizing ensemble of flavors. Shinrikyu is a connoisseur's sencha.

Leaf: The color of this leaf had a very normal dark green hue to it, with a few stems and other lighter colored elements. None of the leaves were particularly large, but it was a rather normal mix.

1st Infusion: The tea had a very strong aroma to it. The aroma was sweet smelling and it reminded me a bit of the chiran yutakamidori from Lupicia. The liquor had a bright green hue to it, clear and luminescent. The flavor ha a very sharp crisp taste to it. It was rich and tasted like a sencha should. It was paired with a light sense of astringency and a clean bitterness. This tea really brings forth the amount of bitterness and astringency needed to make a clean feeling after drinking. This is a very solid flavored sencha.

2nd Infusion: This infusion like most was darker and cloudier in color. It did though have almost a light shade of brown to it. Compared to the first infusion though there was a strong sense of bitterness, but this was paired with a strong green flavor. It finished off with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: The flavor for this tea is very good and very characteristic. The price isn't very expensive and acted as a general sencha should.