Uroncha Fukuoka Sayamakaori Ichibancha - Japanese Kyushu Whole Leaf Oolong - Option: 50 g

Sayama Kaori is a Japanese tea cultivar that translates to "fragrance of Sayama" and it is the aroma of this cultivar that sets it apart from others. It offers notes of ponderosa pine and pea shoots with a hint of pumpkin seed flavor. This unusual smell and, by extension, the taste is more distinguishable in green tea, in more oxidized and possibly slightly roasted Oolongs and black teas, the overall fragrance and taste bring us delicate sweet notes of flowers and roasted fruit. As stated by more than one experienced taster, the aroma and taste of this tea will transport you to Sayama at the beginning of summer, when the morning dew is full of grass and flowers and begins to evaporate under the onslaught of the summer sun. The lingering aftertaste of this tea will make it all linger in your mouth and head long after you finish the cup.

Most Japanese teas have broken leaves due to the nature of the processing and the traditional grading of the tea. So it is always exciting to see teas from Japan that are processed in a way that preserves the integrity of the leaf, resulting in greater flavor complexity as well as the ability to enjoy more infusions.

The Sayama Kaori tea region is known as Sayama and the cultivar got its name from that. It is a small area of northwestern Tokyo and includes Saitama Prefecture. Sayama Kaori has been bringing us joy with its presence since 1971 and is developed by crossing different cultivars with each other. Sayama Kaori is a robust cultivar and is particularly known for its high production. It usually consists of heavy buds with leaves that are very similar in shape to the Yabukita parent cultivar. However, they are more uniform, larger and stronger. Due to the presence of large amounts of catechins, the cultivar Sayama Kaori can be easily processed as Oolong or black tea.