Shincha – New Harvest Sencha (100g Bag)

Great young shincha

Recently got into Japanese tea after a few weeks in Japan visiting. I ordered this tea as a starter one. Very green grassy. Very enjoyable.

Fresh and bright

I originally tried this in Kyoto and fell in love! Bright and fresh new harvest sencha, this tea has become a daily treat. It is less vegetal when steeped at 3 grams, 100 ml at 160° F for 30 seconds.

Premium price for mediocre product

To say this was a whopping disappointment is an understatement. I brewed it with the suggested method, and then as an ice brew, and then as a cold brew with the recommended grams of tea each time. Unless I’m glaringly missing something, Shincha is not supposed to be shy, muted, delicate or “contemplative”. This one is. Coaxing any aromatics out of this is darn near impossible. Comparatively, the three other from other purveyors I’ve had are all vibrant, zesty, fragrant, flavorful and definitely scream SPRING- Ippodo’s rendition does not. Don’t get me wrong- it’s not horrible: it just smells and tastes like normal sencha, and for the price, it’s ridiculously depressing. I was expecting a vivacious, richly aromatic and deeply flavorful tea. I got thin, slightly vegetal, and vaguely fragrant aromas of sea breeze after far too many sniff attempts than needed. Definitely will not be purchasing again.