The leaves are rolled into needles that can be up to an inch and a half long. The tea smells rich and transportive, like I can smell the temperate Shizuoka hillside air. Aromatic, moist and fresh/airy scent, grassy, for lack of a better term. I bought this tea directly from the farmer, in person. He is a third generation farmer and the tea in the bag comes only from his farm (i.e. it’s not mixed). He hand-rolls some of his finest leaves, and that tea is really special. (The tea in this review was machine rolled at the farm).
Brewing notes: This tea has a wide flavor that hits the tip and the back corners of my tongue and reverberates on my cheeks. It has a strong nasal component. Its umami remains in the mouth and the sweetness rests in the nose for a long time.
165 °F / 73 °C
1 min, 30 sec