YAMASAN KYOTO UJI Sencha Fukamushi - Deep Steamed Sencha Green Tea - Japanese Loose Leaf Green Tea, 80g

This was a very nice daily sencha with bright fresh notes typical of Japanese tea. It has a beautiful bright green color and wonderful grassy/floral aroma. While not the best sencha I've ever tasted, it was smooth and not dull, truly a far cry from any of the green teas you find pre-bagged in supermarkets. The key that cannot be stressed enough is to avoid using very hot water at all costs. This is a delicate tea, which benifits greatly from a gentle steep of no more than 2 minutes. I'd very much recommend this tea to anyone new or old to Japanese green teas, as it will certianly please it's company.

Whilst this product is on expensive side, the quality is exceptional. I am very fussy with green tea and it can often be bitter but this makes a smooth tasting tea every time. In my opinion one of the best I’ve tried.

The packaging is not big. The tea looks clean, rich green, has a distinct taste similar to matcha. I expected a different taste, so I won't buy it again.

This tea definitely suffers from the classic 'organic curse' we see so often with Western-focused marketing. You know the one: where the appeal of the certification seems to come at the cost of the actual character of the tea. Visually, the leaves are exactly what you expect from a fukamushi. It is mostly broken needles which, once brewed, turn into a vibrant, fresh spinach-green mush. The quality of the leaf itself is undeniably decent, and as you can see in the photos, it produces a surprisingly clear liquor for a deep-steam. I brewed this according to the package suggestions, roughly 80-85C for a minute. The result is clean. Disappointingly clean, actually. Because it is organic, it feels a bit sterile. That deep, savoury umami you want from a fukamushi is there, and it stays through the entire sip. But there is just not much else accompanying it. It is a very singular note without the chaotic complexity that usually makes deep-steamed teas interesting. It works fine as a daily drink if you just want that baseline depth without thinking too much about it. However, at £13 for 80g, it feels like you are paying the Amazon tax and the Organic tax rather than for the tea itself. There are other fukamushi options on the site that stand out much more than this. 3 Stars.

When it comes to a green tea, it’s a serious business for Japanese people. We grow up with drinking green tea everyday and we know what we’re talking about (lol). This green tea got a beautiful taste with the depth flavour but it’s not bitter. And it doesn’t get stewed at all even if you leave it long. Additionally I’m so chuffed that more Japanese products have become available on Amazon recently. I usually order Japanese food at Japanese food shops in London but I have to make an order at more than 40£ worth for one order. I sometimes need a packet of green tea. So thank you Amazon.

Like anothe reviewer, I too was a die-hard Ippodo customer but had been put off by increasing costs over recent times. I've tried several Japanese green teas available through Amazon but none of them have the authentic Sencha taste - until now. As soon as I opened the packet and took in the aroma I knew I was onto a winner, and the taste didn't disappoint. Ok, so this is probably equivalent to the lower end offerings of Ippodo's Sencha range, but to be fair they set the bar pretty high. If you've ever drunk Sencha in Japan and want to rediscover that unique taste, then I recommend buying this tea.

After drinking this I realised that I know nothing about green tea. I've been used to drinking mediocre green teas that turn bitter after standing for 10 to 20 minutes. This tea is a world apart. It has a wonderfully subtle flavour that is smooth on the palate. I can drink it all day. No trace of bitterness no matter how long it is left to stand. A beautiful tea that has motivated me to learn more about what I'm drinking.

Tasted and smelled like chicken broth - bizarre I know, but it may have just been me because I gave the packet to my sister and she hasn't said anything...and she's vegan so if it DID smell like chicken she would have said right away. Can't recommend though because I'm not the only one who got the chicken broth vibe from this tea so it's probably a 50/50 gamble if youy're buying this for the first time, BUT if you love the smell of chicken broth first thing in the morning you're quids in 👍