Sencha Oku Yutaka

The mountainous part of the Yame region is called Oku-Yame. Its elevation and inverted climate means it is prone to fog, which acts like a veil over the tea fields that grow there. This natural protection causes the tea plants to store nutrients in their leaves, eventually resulting in a tea rich in an umami flavor.

Kakuda Seicha is a tea farming family in Kamyo-cho of Yame City in Fukuoka, in Oku-yame. Three generations previous to him, his ancestors built a small tea factory with the intention of producing genuine Oku-Yame tea that reflects the virtues of this mountainous terroir. Kakuda's relationship with this region, and the practice of farming and crafting tea there, runs very deep.

This sencha is made from a single varietal that is uniquely resistant to cold, making it ideal for growing in mountainous areas. Oku Yutaka is characterized by its mellow aroma and strong flavor, reminiscent of wild flowers and earth.

The tea has a rich, seaweedy taste and a plush mouthfeel. It drinks slowly, developing more character in the 3rd and 4th infusions, all the while maintaining a mysterious and oceanic tilt.