Detailed Taste Profile - Hoshinoshizuku -

A Landscape in a Cup

The flavor of this tea is a magnificent expression of the 'Saemidori' cultivar and the unique terroir of Hoshino village. The practice of shading the tea plants before harvest builds the foundation for this multi-layered and profound taste, allowing the leaves to accumulate abundant L-theanine (umami) while softening astringency.

If I may, allow me to share my own subjective impression as the owner of this shop, from the first time I tasted this tea.

From Forest to Sunlight

What first spreads across the palate is a supple, rounded, and dense umami. The 'Ooika' aroma, reminiscent of high-grade nori, feels like an invitation into a tranquil, cool forest. And what emerges from that quietude is not just sweetness. It is that warm, hokuhoku texture—the comforting sensation of eating a steamed chestnut or a stone-roasted sweet potato. It slowly spreads through your mouth like sunlight filtering into a cool forest. It was a comforting experience, closer to a 'sensation' or 'mouthfeel' than just a taste.

• Aroma: The 'Ooika' (covering scent) of high-grade nori and the youthfulness of steamed edamame, with a warm, sweet nuance of chestnut in the background.
• Palate: A supple and rounded, concentrated umami. This is followed by a gentle sweetness and a warm, hokuhoku (starchy and comforting) texture reminiscent of steamed chestnuts.
• Liquor Color: A brilliant and clear yellow-green. This is a hallmark of the chuumushi (medium-steamed) method, which preserves the delicate, intrinsic aroma of the tea leaf while still extracting a rich umami. Furthermore, the careful hiire (final firing) process creates its signature clarity and removes any trace of roughness.