New Year's "Obuku" Sencha by Marukyu Koyamaen
Obuku Sencha from Marukyu Koyamaen is their seasonal New Year's tea, available only during the winter months. Obukucha (meaning "Good Fortune Tea") traces back over a thousand years to 951, when a Buddhist priest distributed tea during a Kyoto epidemic. Emperor Murakami later adopted the tradition of drinking it to welcome the new year. This version uses arashiage sencha, a style with lighter finishing that keeps more of the leaf's natural character, blended with gyokuro for added depth. The flavor is smooth and mild with a slight bitterness that builds gradually, finishing with an almost floral quality.
The packaging is beautiful. White washi paper, bold brushstroke calligraphy, and a red mizuhiki cord tied in a traditional bow. Each bag contains 100 grams.
Marukyu Koyamaen, founded in 1704 in Uji, has won over twenty-two first prizes in Japan's National Tea Competition.
$ 22.00