This special batch of Gyokuro was blended by our friend Hisaki Horii, an 8th generation tea maker and the current CEO of his family’s tea business, Hekisuien, a prestigious Kyoto-based tea company established in 1867. Hekisuien focuses on traditional and ultra-premium gyokuro and matcha grown in Uji. They use blending techniques that combine different cultivars and vintages from the Uji region's most prized farmers. Hekisuien creates unique teas through the practice of aging and blending multi-vintages. This batch combines three different vintages of five cultivars grown by different Uji farmers. It has layers of flavorful depth and aroma that flow through the course of several infusions. The notes of roasted nori and the rich umami sweetness of this Gyokuro carry forth a woody fragrance of cypress and cedar. The balance of taste, body, and aroma is very special and long-lasting.
