Uji Matcha #2 (Ceremonial Grade / Hand-picked)

The rare "Asahi" cultivar is one of Japan's finest tea leaves, often dominating national tea competitions. Highly difficult to cultivate and produced in limited quantities, it offers a vibrant freshness, a deep richness, and a profound shaded aroma (Ooika). We carefully blend this with "Samidori," a classic Tencha cultivar prized for its clean, rich sweetness and strikingly vibrant, glossy deep green color. Blending these cultivars creates a multi-dimensional flavor a single variety cannot achieve. When whisked, Samidori’s vivid green beautifully layers with Asahi’s rich aroma and depth. Rather than an overly heavy umami, we crafted a clear, elegant taste that never tires the palate, remaining pleasant to the last drop. By minimizing bitterness and letting their traits harmonize, this matcha leaves a beautiful, soft finish that gently lingers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **【 Production & Cultivar Information 】** Category : Koicha (Thick Matcha) Origin : Uji, Kyoto Cultivars : Asahi, Samidori Harvest : Hand-picked Milling : Stone-ground Harvest Season : First Harvest **・Hand-Picked and Slowly Ground** Only the softest, youngest shoots are selected through meticulous hand-picking. By selecting the leaves entirely by hand instead of using machines, older leaves and tough stems that cause bitterness are naturally excluded, ensuring only the purest tea leaves are gathered. These selected leaves are then slowly ground in traditional stone mills at a rate of just 30 grams per hour. While this method requires considerable time and care, the slow grinding process helps keep friction heat low, allowing the leaves to retain their fresh aroma and rich umami. **・Well-Suited for Koicha** Koicha (thick matcha) is prepared by kneading a larger amount of matcha with a small amount of hot water. Because this style reveals the true essence of the tea leaves, it calls for leaves of exceptional quality with very little bitterness. Crafted for a clear, refined umami, Matcha #2 can be enjoyed both as an everyday usucha (thin tea) and as koicha. It offers a smooth texture and a deep, balanced flavor. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As tea is a product of nature, its flavor varies slightly from year to year. We carefully assess the unique characteristics of each harvest, making fine adjustments to the balance of umami and subtle bitterness. Each batch is thoughtfully prepared to maintain the balanced, harmonious character of YUGEN’s Matcha #2.