Yakushima Sencha
MODERN TEAIST
$5.00USD for 10g

I won this sample of Yakushima Sencha from Modern Teaist on Instagram. He gave away 7 sets of tea. One to the winner, and one to whomever the winner tagged in his post. 
Since winning this tea, I have purchased my tea pet, Finnigan the Fish, from him and we have teamed up for a Tea Pet Giveaway! I was not asked to do a review on this tea but a good Sencha is hard to find.

Packaging

My tea from Modern Teaist arrived in a solid white heat sealed pouch. The pouch is re-sealable which is great if you plan on keeping it in the pouch for a time. On the package is the name of the tea, and the Origin.

Origin: Watanabe Family Hachimanjyu Yakushima Tea Farm. Yakushima Island, Kagoshima, Japan

Also on the lable are the ingredients and some information regarding the the harvesting and storage of the tea. I love that he is so forthcoming about the origins and care of this tea. 

I opened the pouch and was immediately greeted by the grassy, sweet umami aroma that Sencha is so well known for. The leaves were a deep green. I was a little surprised by how small the leaves were. But Sencha leaves are incredibly delicate so they could have been more intact prior to shipping. 

How to Brew

There weren’t any brewing instructions on the pouch itself, but included in my envelope was a card Congratulating me for winning the giveaway. On the card, he recommended brewing the Yakushima Sencha at around 150*F. It also says to gradually raise the temperature as you re-steep. There wasn’t a steep time listed but Sencha’s are incredibly sensitive. I usually only steep for 45 seconds to get the best flavor. This, of course, is up to you and how you like your tea. 

The Experience

I am not always a big fan of Sencha. Typically, I find that no matter what I do it comes out bitter and incredibly astringent.  I followed Modern Teaist’s instructions when breweing this tea. I heated my water to 150*F and let it sit for about 45 seconds. The sweet umami aroma that greeted me as my tea brewed was surprising.

Yakushima Sencha brewed to a pale yellow, which is typical for a Sencha Green Tea. I was pleased to find the taste to be incredibly pleasant. It was grassy, as expected, with plenty of umami. There was even a slightly sweet flavor that I have never experienced from a Sencha before. 

This is what a real green tea should taste like. This is what I rave about when my friends tell me they don’t like tea. 

The leaves brightened a bit as they brewed. They were very vibrant. I only brewed the leaves once. I know that I could have brewed them 2 or 3 more times but I didn’t want to risk losing the sweet flavor. This may not be a tea I drink on a regular basis but It is absolutely one that I will recommend to friends and family who are looking for a solid green tea.

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