Shaded Sencha

In the weeks before harvest, shading is applied over the tea plants to restrict sunlight - a technique that slows growth, increases chlorophyll and L-theanine, and concentrates the flavour in the leaf. The result in the cup is a sencha with noticeably more depth and sweetness than standard unshaded versions: rich, almost brothy, with a pronounced umami character, a vivid green colour, and a long, smooth finish with none of the bitterness associated with poor-quality Japanese greens. An excellent daily tea for those who want something more structured than a standard sencha.