RYUOUEN
Premium Gyokuro Houou
Premium Gyokuro Houou
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Deep Umami · Sweet · Rich & Silken
A luxurious gyokuro with deep, concentrated umami, pronounced sweetness and a smooth, almost broth-like texture.
鳳凰 (Houou) is one of Ryuouen’s distinguished gyokuro, prized for its vivid green colour, rich flavour and characteristic 覆い香 (ooika), the distinctive fragrance that develops when tea plants are shaded before harvest.
鳳凰 “Houou”
Houou refers to the phoenix, a mythical bird traditionally associated with nobility, beauty and auspiciousness.
Like a classic gyokuro, best brewed slowly with cooler water. This allows its concentrated umami and sweetness to emerge while keeping bitterness and astringency restrained.
When brewed carefully, the tea has a rich, almost dashi-like umami and a smooth, lingering mouthfeel. A Japanese review describes its characteristic shaded-tea fragrance alongside a deep umami and silky texture.
The tea can also be infused several times, with each infusion revealing a different aspect of its character.
How to Brew
Gyokuro
5g tea
50–60ml water
50–60°C
90–120 seconds
Use a small teapot and allow the leaves time to slowly release their concentrated flavour.
Pour completely between cups so that the final drops, where much of the tea's richness remains are not left behind.
Second infusion:
Use slightly hotter water and a shorter steeping time.
Continue for a third infusion, adjusting temperature and time to taste.
Tasting Notes
Deep Umami · Sweet · Brothy · Silken · Long Finish
Umami ◉◉◉◉◉
Sweetness ◉◉◉◉◉
Bitterness ◉○○○○
Astringency ◉○○○○
Aroma ◉◉◉◉◉
Details
Weight: 70g
Origin: Uji, Kyoto
Pairing
The rich umami and sweetness of Houou make it particularly beautiful alongside delicate wagashi and savoury Japanese dishes.
For the fullest experience, we recommend first enjoying it on its own, allowing its deep umami, shaded-tea aroma and lingering sweetness to develop.
Recommended Storage
Store in an airtight container away from heat, light, moisture and strong aromas.
Because gyokuro is particularly delicate, refrigeration can help preserve its freshness. Allow the tea to return to room temperature before opening to minimise condensation.
For the best flavour and aroma, enjoy soon after opening.
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ABOUT THE MAKER
Ryuouen | 柳桜園 | Uji, Kyoto Prefecture
Established in 1875, Ryuouen (柳桜園) is an unusual case among long-established teahouses, as it's run by only nine employees.
Ryuouen is a tea producer rooted in the historic tea-growing region of Uji, Kyoto - an area long regarded as the heart of Japan’s finest green tea. With deep respect for tradition, Ryuouen cultivates and processes Uji matcha and sencha using time-honoured methods refined over generations.
Carefully managing cultivation, shading, harvesting, and stone-grinding, they focus on producing tea with clarity, depth, and balance. Their teas are characterised by vibrant colour, refined umami, and a clean, lingering finish.
Dedicated to quality and seasonality, Ryuouen’s work reflects the craftsmanship and quiet precision that define authentic Uji tea.
One day, we received some tea from Ryuouen as a souvenir from Japan and were incredibly impressed by its taste. We contacted Ryuouen, and they explained, "We make an effort to maintain the quality of our tea, and to achieve this, we prefer to keep our business small." They sell their products exclusively in their own stores, do not sell online, and only open pop-up shops a few times a year. Additionally, what impressed us was that they haven't changed their method of selling tea. It takes one hour to grind 40 grams of matcha, and the tea is sold by weight in their store.
After sharing our enthusiasm for matcha with them, they agreed to let us sell their products in Australia. We are honoured to be able to bring their matcha to Australia and share this exceptional tea with you.