Fukamushi Sencha Kaoru: Review and How To Guide

Fukamushi Sencha Kaoru was definitely one of my most anticipated teas this year. With my first tastes of this fukamushi coming in shincha season, I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

Background of Fukamushi Kaoru

Although this fukamushi is a recent offering from O-Cha.com, in many ways, it appears its purpose is to fill the shoes of the previously existing Fukamushi Supreme. From the Shizuoka prefecture, this sencha is the embodiment of deep steamed tea.

The incredibly crumbly leaves are a medium shade of green. The vendor recommends using a specifically designed teapot to handle fukamushi to brew this tea. That’s sound advice, but I would also consider any kyusu with a stainless steel wrap filter or large oval to be compatible with this tea.

Brewing

Fukamushi Sencha Kaoru is relatively easy to brew. The temperature is somewhat forgiving, and the overall parameters are really easy to tailor to your exact taste.

Leaf: 1 1/4tbsp/125ml

Temp: 77C(170F)

Time: 0:55 sec

The main thing to keep in mind when brewing deep steamed sencha – and especially this one – is to go light on the leaf and time. Without much effort, this tea can produce a wonderfully grassy cup. You will risk gaining too much bitterness and astringency if you allow it to steep for too long.

I’ve found a temperature slightly on the hotter side will result in a flavour with livelier grassy notes.

Pouring a fukamushi like this can be a challenge depending on your teapot. The fine tea particles can clog your filter. To remedy this, most people suggest beginning your pour with your kyusu tilted on a 45 degree angle. As the pour slows, roll your teapot to be tilted at a 45 degree angle the other way. Then, as that slows, roll the kyusu to the centre. This should evenly distribute the leaves against the filter.

Thoughts and Observations

The colour of this tea is a nice, rich shade of green. The aroma is wonderfully grassy, as is the flavour. Although this tea is billed as having a medium level of astringency, I find it exhibits a lighter amount when brewed under these parameters.

Fukamushi Sencha Kaoru is definitely a stellar tea. But what’s more is that it is probably the most clear and classic example of deep steamed sencha. Priced nicely, I would recommend any fan of Japanese greens to give this tea a try.

Later Infusions

Second and third infusions of this tea, as with any fukamushi, require extremely short infusion times. In fact, for the second infusion, you want it to be instantaneous. That’s right, a zero second infusion time. The third and forth would increase with 20 – 30 second increments.

This image is of the second infusion. The brew is so opaque, the green is in the realm of matcha.

This Post Has 6 Comments

Serene Forest

October 31, 2013 at 2:48 pm

would you say this is the best fukamushi cha?

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Griff

October 31, 2013 at 9:46 pm

Hmm, well for one, I can’t say it’s the best as I have not tried every fukamushi out there 😛

However, choosing my words carefully, I would say it is the best example of a classic fukamushi that I’ve tried. That’s not to say I think it is the best fukamushi out there (I think some lighter ones may be more tuned to my taste) but it’s certainly a quality product nonetheless 🙂

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Consolarificus

September 2, 2014 at 10:31 pm

Hi Griff,
Without trying to, you’ve convinced me to give this tea a try. Do you still stand by the instantaneous second steep? In the forums, you mentioned 10 seconds to a poster. Looking for more grassiness and sweetness and less bitterness and astringency.

Also, how many grams per 125 ml would you recommend?

Thanks,
François/Consola