Sparkling Tea Gyokuro Okabe

Nose. The nose shows tropical fruit and sweet spice.^[2]

Palate. The palate carries peach, pear, and honeydew melon. The finish shows a delicate bitterness described as the clean edge of a peach pit. Effervescence is fine, the beverage is lightly sweet, and a balanced acidity carries the fruit without excess.^[2]

Structure. Structural points supported by the tasting notes:^[2]

• Sweetness: lightly sweet
• Acidity: balanced, carrying the fruit without excess
• Effervescence: fine

Sparkling Tea Gyokuro Okabe is suggested with seafood, white meats, and pressed cheeses.^[2]

Gyokuro Green Tea -- Base. The base is Gyokuro tea grown in Okabe, Shizuoka, Japan, at 200 metres elevation. The tea is shaded for 20 to 30 days before harvest; one account from Lao gives the shading period as 20 days. Lao credits this shading with concentrating theanine and creating a silky, umami-rich texture.^[1]

Sparkling Tea Gyokuro Okabe won both a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal at the World Alcohol-Free Awards (WAFA) 2024.^[1],[3]