Specifications
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Wazuka, Kyoto |
| Harvest | Ichibancha (first harvest) |
| Producer | The Ōokawa family |
| Certification | EU Organic |
| Price | ~€28 to €35/20 g |
| Availability | thejapaneseteahub.es |
Sensory analysis
Colour (10/10)
Pure jade green, the most vivid of the whole tasting. Consistent with a top-quality Wazuka ichibancha. No yellow or olive cast at all.
Aroma (9/10)
Young pea, almond milk, a sea note. Complex without being overwhelming. This is the aroma that most brings to mind a tea field at harvest.
Foam (9/10)
Dense foam with a very even microbubble. It holds for more than two minutes. The best foam in the comparison.
Umami (9/10)
Deep, sustained umami. Wazuka plus ichibancha plus a family grower gives one of the most balanced umami profiles we have tasted.
Astringency (9/10)
Very low. Clean bitterness at the end. The finish is long and sweet.
Verdict
The Japanese Tea Hub is the most complex and best documented matcha in our whole tasting. Traceability down to the Ōokawa family, with the grower’s name, the exact location (Wazuka) and the batch, is a standard nothing else in the ranking reaches. The one drawback is price: €28 to €35 for 20 g puts it out of reach as an everyday tea for most people. For special occasions, and for understanding what a genuine first-harvest Uji matcha actually tastes like, it is the reference.