Gokumukashi means 'Mastering Matcha'. As the name suggests, this is the triump of the Kanbayashi Shunsho Usucha line and by far of one of the most intriguing matchas we've tasted. The aroma of this blend is journey that starts with the caramel sweetness of malted milk along with the refreshing brightness of green bamboo with hints of woody pine and finally the salinity of seaweed. With a full bodied and complex flavour profile, this is one of the silkiest matchas in mouth feel. The initial flavour is an intense rush of earthiness and savoury umami like wild mushrooms in cream. As it travels through the mouth, the vegetal notes are rich and deep akin to warm slow cooked vegetable broth and finally the floral fragrance and bright essence of pine shines at the very end. A delightful journey for the senses and a matcha to be savoured for all its beautiful nuances.
Established for fifteen generations since the Eiroku era (around 1560), the Kanbayashi Shunsho story began when its first generation, Kamon no Jo Hisashige, moved to Uji from the Kanbayashi Township in Tanba and became heavily involved in the tea industry, playing an important role in production and distribution as the leading tea master in the Uji tea industry. During the Edo period (1603-1867), he was bestowed the title “Gomotsu Ochashi,” or the highest rank of tea master, and principally performed the role of tea provider to the shogunate and various feudal lords.
But, with the changing of periods came a wind of change. The Meiji era marked a drastic upheaval for many tea masters, who were forced to change their business models as shogunate favoured tea master establishments to tea merchant establishments. The Shunsho family adapted swiftly with the introduction of newly developed teas 'gyokuro' and 'sencha' , an absolute hit with tea lovers. And the company motto "learning from the past for the future" still holds true to this day.
Not many can claim an ancestry linking back to Uji tea masters, but the Kanbayashi Shunsho family boasts of a legacy that spans 450 years, and have been purveyors of high quality teas for generations of tea lovers.
Weight | 40g
Origin | Kyoto prefecture, Japan
