Hosen

Tea: Hosen
Vendor: Ippodo
Price: 1,500 Yen / 100g
Source: Japan
Vendor Description: A harmonious blend of sweetness, bitterness, richness, astringency and fragrance - this is sencha. It's easy to understand why sencha is such a favorite beverage in Japan, not only for those seeking to quench a thirst, but also for those wanting to sip on something extra special.

In the morning or afternoon, before or after a meal, sencha is the perfect drink to revitalize your mind and refresh your spirit.

For the sencha drinker who appreciates a refined, well-balanced tea, Hosen is an excellent choice. Its subtle sweetness, elegant fragrance and fresh aftertaste are characteristic of Ippodo's premium sencha blends. Though recommended primarily for seasoned tea drinkers, Hosen is also a good choice for newcomers and those seeking a slightly richer and sweeter version of Sho-ikeno-o.

Leaf: The leaf for this is lightly polished. It is a thin dark leaf with a light and uplifting aroma to it. The leaves swirl with an almost fluid motion. There is a little bit of fleck to the leaf, but it consists primarily of larger longer leaves. The aroma feels smooth, almost reminding me of a gyokuro aroma.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 185F, 60s

1st Infusion: The tea has a bright yellow hue. It has a light and crisp sencha aroma. The flavor is smooth and light with a light sense of bitterness. There is no astringency, and the flavor feels very clean. There is a bit of a tang on the sides of the mouth, and it is a very uplifting lightness.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 0s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a light and crisp aroma. There are hints of a grassy flavor to it, but the flavor is upflifting and clear still. There is a light sense of astringency paired with a medium bold flavor. It is stronger than the first infusion even with the instantaneous infusion.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 30s, 185F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was a murky yellow hue. The flavor is lighter and sharper. The astringency has developed into a medium strength, and the flavor is much richer. It hints at grassiness, but is much richer still uplifting.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is quite an impressive asamushi sencha. The flavor is light and clean feeling without being to harsh and strong. It's priced rather cheaply, but like all Ippodo tea you have to pay a high shipping cost. Even with the high shipping costs this tea is still a good bargain. The flavor is comparable to some of the much more expensive senchas that I have tried. This is probably going to be in quite a few of my Ippodo orders in the future.