NEW
Floral, white grape
Umami★★★☆ / Astringency☆☆☆☆
Body★★★☆ / Firing★★☆☆

Sôfû is a cultivar that has received a great deal of attention in the past few years. It can be said to be a one-quarter Indian “inzatsu” cultivar, having been created in Kagoshima from a cross between Yabukita and Shizu-Inzatsu 131. The varieties develop truly unique aromas found in no other type of cultivar. Being quite sensitive to cold, it cannot grow everywhere. It is unable to adapt to the high-altitude tea gardens in Kawane, and instead favours the lower areas bordering the Ooi-gawa river.
The first infusion delivers primarily sweet fragrances with floral notes that are subtle, yet clearly characteristic of the inzatsu varieties.
In the mouth, there is surprisingly little astringency and a strong sweet umami impression. The aromas are then unambiguously those of the Sôfû cultivar. They are a bouquet evoking small white and yellow flowers, with notes of green peas. However, this tea is otherwise not vegetal.
With each subsequent, hotter infusion, the aromas of this type of cultivar become noticeably stronger and characteristic of Sôfû. The qualities of the cultivar can then be appreciated. Always without excessive astringency, it is fluid, velvety and especially aromatic. This superb sencha from Kawane gives five beautiful infusions (do not hesitate to finish with boiling water).
The length in the mouth is wonderfully powerful, sweet, has umami and light citrus tones.

Type of tea : Futsumushi (normal-steamed) sencha
Origin : Shimonagao, Kawane-honcho municipality, Haibara District, Shizuoka Prefecture
Cultivar : Sôfû
Harvest : April 19th, 2025