Kabuse Sencha "OKUYUTAKA" (Wazuka / Kyoto)

Sweetness (Umami): ★★★
Astringency: ★★
Color: ★★★

Color of tea water Left: 1st brew Right: 2nd brew

Okuyutaka single-origin tea leaves from Wazuka, Kyoto Prefecture.

It is said to be a rare breed with a short suitable harvesting period, which is about 6 days later than Yabukita, which is widely available in the market.

YUGEN's Okuyutaka is characterized by its refined and elegant aroma, as well as its robust umami and rich, mellow taste.

The first infusion, despite being a high-grade sencha, has a somewhat a warm and rich taste that brings back memories.
Even in the second infusion, the goodness of the richness remains, and you can feel the freshness contrary to the deep green color, and a warm and rich taste that brings back memories are more lively.
In addition, by increasing the temperature of the water after the third infusion, you can enjoy the familiar freshness and a mild bitterness that blends well with everyday life.

・About Kabusecha

Kabusecha is a Japanese green tea produced by covering the tea plants to block sunlight.This reduces the level of catechins—the compounds responsible for bitterness and astringency—and highlights the tea’s natural sweetness and umami.

Typically shaded for about one week—shorter than gyokuro’s 20 days—it is often described as a tea between sencha (standard green tea) and gyokuro (high-grade shaded tea), combining the mellow sweetness of gyokuro with the refreshing character of sencha.

・Wazuka, Kyoto — 800 Years of Tea and Morning Mist

Wazuka, a small town in southern Kyoto Prefecture, has been cultivating tea for over 800 years. It is known as one of Japan’s leading tea-producing regions, highly regarded for the quality of its tea in flavor, aroma, and the beautifully needle-shaped form of the leaves.

Surrounded by mountains, Wazuka sits in a basin with a large difference between day and night temperatures. This climate often brings a deep morning mist over the tea fields. More than a beautiful scene, the mist acts like a natural cover, softening the sunlight and creating a gentle environment for the tea plants.

The amino acids that give tea its sweetness and umami can turn into bitter and astringent compounds when exposed to strong sunlight. In Wazuka, however, the morning mist helps protect the leaves from direct sun, allowing them to retain their rich flavor. The land, the climate, and the mist all come together to create tea with a smooth, mellow taste and deep umami.

【 Tea Leaf Storage Instructions 】

・Store unopened tea in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. For extended storage, keep it sealed, freeze, and let it return to room temperature before opening.

・After opening, place the tea in an airtight, opaque container and keep it in a cool, dark place. For best quality, enjoy as soon as possible, ideally within one month.

・Avoid storing near strongly scented items, as tea easily absorbs odors.