Tea Review: Benifuki First Flush Black Tea from Shimada (Thés du Japon)

Benifuki First Flush Black Tea from Shimada

Thés du Japon
Type: Black
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada, Kiriyama
Product Description:

Mr. Miura is a tea producer in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, with a garden on the famous Makinohara Plateau, and in recent years he has been one of the leading figures in the world of Japanese black tea. This spring harvest Benifûki is a very classical black tea. It is robust but at the same time brings out in the best way the characteristics of the most famous variety for Japanese black tea. When it is infused, this tea produces a powerful, bewitching pastry scent, evoking honey, buttery berry tarts and toasted almonds. It has a powerful attack in the mouth, beginning with marked but elegant astringency, then woody notes and finally a delicious sweet impression. In the end, there is a fine balance, resulting from the art of the producer of this black tea (a tea that would also be very nice with milk) and from the Benifûki cultivar itself. This is a black tea that is rich and sweet to the nose, and powerful and robust in the mouth.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaf aroma has floral, antique wood, and berry-like notes.

The bright red infusion has an aroma reminiscent of warm berry pie.  The taste is full-bodied and almost savory with mild astringency followed by a hint of fruit in the finish.

The aroma of the first infusion reminded me very much of berry pie and the taste had some similarities to an Assam.  The second infusion was bolder in aroma, taste, and astringency.

This tea was received as a gift from a third party.