I could meet a magnificent tea store. The tea store is “Gclef”. This tea store helped me to explore my desired tea.

When I visited the shop, the staff welcomed me with a cup of black tea and their sophisticated hospitality.

They explained characteristics of each tea in detail. And then, I could try tasting of 3 types of tea, which are selected by the staff based on my desired qualities.

At first, they served two types of black tea. Darjeeling and Assam as follows.

One is the Darjeeling 1st flush black tea produced in Puttabong Estate.

The color of infusion is clear transparent and slight amber.

The appearance of tea leaves after brewing indicates that young tea sprouts underwent the relatively lower oxidation.

I think the tea has clear sweetness like baked corn with delicate and sweet fruity finish.

Second is the Assam 1st flush black tea produced in Mangalam Estate.

When I see the infusion color and taste it, I thought “This IS the black tea”. Full bodied tannin and complex fragrance like flowers are exactly characteristics of black tea.

Two of them have enough impressive flavor to taste without any additives such as sugar or milk. Besides, based on the explanation board, both two tea leaves can be infused more than 7 times and express various flavor in each infusion!!

These excellent black teas let me remind Black Tea Magicians of Makinohara plantations, for example, Mr. Yamamoto of Samurai Tea Farm, Mr. Miura of Kanetou Miura-en, Mr. Imura of IMURA-EN, Mr. Matsumoto of Kaneroku Matsumoto-en and the Mr. Shibamoto.

Surprisingly, the Benifuki Premium tea produced by IMURA-EN is sold!

And the black tea is recommended as a present set for Mother’s day.

The Benifuki Premium black tea has natural fruity aroma like peach, well-balanced tannin and delicate nuance.

The third tasting cup is Sencha green tea produced in Umegashima region of Honyama tea estate, locating in the upper stream of Abe River.

The cultivar of this loose leaf tea is mixture of native varieties. This tea has light bodied flavor and nutty aroma with fresh finish. I’d like to drink after meals.

If we curious with some teas in the shop, we can ask staff to let us try tasting.

Thanks to the best hospitality of the shop, I could spend a wonderful time to enjoy tasting and selecting the desired tea. After all I bought 3 black teas, Darjeeling 1st flush produced in Puttabong Estate, Darjeeling 1st flush produced in Sungma Estate and Nepal Autumnnal produced in Junchiyabari Estate.

The president Mr. Kawasaki organizes a fancy tea event “Japan Tea Festival”. In this year, this “Japan Tea Festival 2018” will be held at Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center on 29th and 30th in September.

If you have some interests in tea, Gclef and “Japan Tea Festival 2018” will provide the opportunity to explore own-desired tea!!