Gokase - Wakoucha Red Tea - First Flush

The Story

Wakoucha, or Japanese red tea, is an oxidized tea similar to black tea, but it has its own character. It is typically more floral, gentler, with notes of forest.

This tea is from Miyazaki Prefecture, in the mountains of Kyushu. The farm is in a valley town at high elevation, where morning mists fill the valley floor.

The fragrance of this particular tea leaf is immediately captivating. In the nose there are both floral and fruity notes, with melon, jasmine, and gardenia. The moment you encounter it, the floral scent of the tea leaves is nearly overwhelming.

It's got a light body with a silky mouth-feel, and a refreshing light sweetness. It's almost similar to a milky oolong in terms of milkiness, but the flavor is gentler and closer to black tea. Makes a great milk tea as well!

This one was a little unusual! We originally found this farm in a Japanese tea magazine, featuring specialty producers. We got in touch with them, and after trying their teas this one stood out to us as particularly special.