Single cultivar sencha, ichou Sayama kaori from Sayama by the 15th generation Okutomi family. Ichoucha literally translates to withered tea. After the leaves are picked, instead of going straight to steaming like the usual process of sencha (steamed Japanese green tea), the leaves are left withering in the room for a few hours before going into the steaming process. This one smells like mikan (citrus family). Very easy drinking from first to last infusion. A light steamed sencha hence the dried leaves presentation is very long and thin.

Ichou Fukumidori is floral to the smell, sweet and refreshing, the ichou profile lingers with every sip. This 2024 harvest, we had the honour to participate in the processing with both the 14th and 15th generation during our shincha trip. One of our picks for the 8 year anniversary special tasting event.

A departure of the stronger umami profile of sencha from Yame, we like ichoucha for its refreshing and floral or fruit like profile (by withering the picked tea leaves before making tea, it activates the oxidase in the leaves and makes the fragrance like flowers and fruits).