CeremonialShiro no Kotobuki
Ceremonial, sourced from Kyoto, Kotobuki cultivar
From $36.72 (30g)
~$1.22 per gram
Grade
Ceremonial
Cultivar
Kotobuki
Region
Kyoto
Sourcing
Kyoto, Japan
View the full sourcing map →Tasting notes
'Mild, particularly sweet and creamy tea' with 'captivating aroma'; as usucha, umami comes out stronger; as koicha, more characteristic astringent flavors dominate; described elsewhere as having 'fresh, bright, lively and particularly engaging flavors' when prepared as koicha, with a finish 'enjoyed for a long time'
Taste index: moderate umami (bitterness-to-umami scale), moderate richness (crisp-to-rich scale), moderate aromatic qualities (subtle-to-aromatic scale)
Composition
L-theanine
24.31 mg/g
Ceremonial-grade published estimate — Goto et al., upper-grade matcha samples, Tea Research Report No.80:23-28 (1994)
EGCG
59.3 mg/g
Ceremonial-grade published estimate — Goto et al., upper-grade matcha samples, Tea Research Report No.83:21-28 (1996)
Pricing as disclosed
Full details
Everything disclosed on the product page (16 fields)▾
- Item Code
- MTG006
- Grade
- Ceremonial grade; suitable for both usucha (thin tea) AND koicha (thick tea) preparation - one of the higher/dual-use grades in the lineup; Sazen collection page: 'Great matcha option for making thick or thin tea'
- Maker Origin
- Hekisuien, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
- Prices Sazen
- { "30g_branded_can": "$36.72", "150g_branded_can": "$166.32", "300g_branded_can": "$328.32" }
- Price Official Site Yen
- ¥3,672 (tax included) for 30g on ujicha.online
- Leaf Sourcing Official Site
- Described on the official site as a blend featuring hand-picked tea leaves combined with machine-harvested leaves, said to create 'complexity' in flavor - a specific harvest/production detail not mentioned on the Sazen Tea listing
- Name Meaning
- 城 (shiro) = castle/palace; 寿 (kotobuki) = celebration and longevity; together evoking 'regal celebration and enduring prosperity'
- Tasting Notes Sazen
- 'Mild, particularly sweet and creamy tea' with 'captivating aroma'; as usucha, umami comes out stronger; as koicha, more characteristic astringent flavors dominate; described elsewhere as having 'fresh, bright, lively and particularly engaging flavors' when prepared as koicha, with a finish 'enjoyed for a long time'
- Tasting Notes Official Site
- Taste index: moderate umami (bitterness-to-umami scale), moderate richness (crisp-to-rich scale), moderate aromatic qualities (subtle-to-aromatic scale)
- Brewing Instructions Usucha
- 1.5-2g matcha, 70ml water at 80C, whisk vigorously
- Brewing Instructions Koicha
- 3.5-4g matcha, 30ml water at 80C, mix gently until creamy (Sazen); official site gives thick-tea ratio as ~5g matcha + 40ml water at 80C - see contradiction note
- Ingredients
- Green tea powder
- Shelf Life
- Best before February 2027
- Review Rating
- 4.6 out of 5 stars (9 reviews) on Sazen Tea
- Packaging
- 30g, 150g, and 300g branded cans (Sazen); official site notes optional gift box (¥66) with wrapping paper (purple/green) and ribbon (red-white/yellow-white)
- Storage Official Site
- Keep in cool, dark conditions; seal bag tightly to minimize air exposure; protect from moisture, heat, oxygen, and light
Research notes
Cross-referenced Sazen Tea (p196) with Hekisuien's official shop ujicha.online (detail/217). The official site adds a specific production detail (hand-picked + machine-harvested leaf blend) not present on Sazen's page. This is one of two Hekisuien matchas in this batch (along with Tenko) explicitly marketed as usable for both usucha and koicha.
