Usucha Biwa no Shiro

Uji matcha for making usucha from Kanbayashi Shunsho

In the Kanbayashi Shunshō usucha portfolio, Biwa no Shiro lies in the middle as a high-quality usucha. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, best known for building the Golden Pavilion, had a deep appreaciation for Uji tea and established seven tea gardens. Biwa, which this tea was named after, was one of these gardens.

This tea has an irresistible, sweet milk caramel fragrance, a complex, multi-faceted flavor, and a silky and pampering texture.
Prepared as an usucha, it is dominantly nutty with macadamia and cashew notes which is layered with a darker, deeper tone of woodsiness, reminiscent of sandalwood. This woodsy layer gives the tea an interesting and unique quality. A sweet and nutty aftertaste lingers long after drinking the tea. It is mellower and richer in umami than Usucha Mozumukashi, the tea directly bellow it in the Kanbayashi portfolio.

(!) Note for Businesses: The manufacturer, Kanbayashi Shunsho does not allow the reselling of their products. They are only available directly to consumers. Thank you for your understanding!

Please note, that Sazen Tea does not keep this product in stock. We get all matcha and tea powder fresh from the factories only after an order is placed for it on our website, and this process can take a few days. Thank you for your patience!

Nutrition information

Reviews:

4.7 out of 5 stars (6)

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Item code: MKS011

Maker: Kanbayashi Shunsho

Origin: Kyoto Pref., JAPAN

Ingredients: green tea powder

Best before: MAY / 2025

SHIPPING DETAILS

Ship to:: Worldwide (List of Countries)
Delivery service:: DHL, FedEx, Yamato Transport, Yu-Pack, S.F. Express, Pick-Up (See conditions)
Estimated posting:: within 10 business days
Payments:: • PayPal • Bank card payment • Bank transfer • Cash on delivery (Learn more here)

The customs duties do not belong to our competence. It may occur that duties have to be paid on receipt of the parcel. About the current rates of customs duties in your country please contact local authority. To learn about international shipping, read more here.

Posting time can vary due to the manufacturers capacity, Japanese national holidays, as well as natural disasters or accidents, etc., and we can not guarantee posting dates.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us

How to prepare

HOW TO PREPARE

STEP 1) Put 2g (0.4 US tsp, 1 teaspoon or 2 chashaku scoop) matcha powder into a suitable tea bowl.
STEP 2) Pour 75 ml (2.4 fl oz) 85℃ (185°F) water over the matcha powder.
STEP 3) Whisk with a chasen (tea whisk) until foamy.

❖ Before Step 1, warm up the tea bowl with hot water, then dry it with a cloth to create the perfect temperature so make the most delicious matcha with a fresh scent while preparing. (Optional)
❖ To prevent clotting of the matcha powder, sift it through a fine strainer before use. (Strongly recommended)
❖ After the matcha is done, drink it immediately, because as it cools down it gets more and more bitter. (Recommended)
❖ Freshness is the most important thing for the enjoyment of Matcha. It is best to use up the tea within one month of opening. (Strongly recommended)

Latest Product Reviews

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Bi******, 2024-11-19 17:28 JST, FRANCE

Absolutely delicious! One of my new favorites. Definitely a more subtle matcha flavor, but the creaminess and smooth sweetness are just so good, especially in a latte with barista-style oat milk (about 150ml oat milk, 4g matcha powder, 45ml water at 80 Celsius). As usucha, I definitely got a stronger matcha flavor and a hint of grassiness with the creaminess, but still delicious. Will be repurchasing this one!

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Po******, 2024-10-22 11:08 JST, CANADA

This is one of my new favourites. Sweet, creamy, with a nuttiness that is not roasted rather like cashew. Will be getting more of this one for sure!

Did you find this review useful? (11)

Cl******, 2024-09-29 12:47 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I love it! it smells like chocolate and it is so creamy. A repurchase indeed :)

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Al******, 2024-09-09 22:16 JST, AUSTRALIA

I think I can recommend this for people who have a milder(?) palette for matcha or people who are just introducing their taste buds to matcha. It definitely delivers on the very caramel-like taste that was promised. On the sweeter side with no bitterness and astringency at all. However, if you're looking for a rich matcha taste, this one is definitely not the product for you. If you drink matcha as lattes (like me), you might need to increase the amount of product to make your drink as that matcha taste wouldn't come through. I normally use 5 grams of matcha for a 500 mL drink, but I've been using 7-8 grams of Biwa no Shiro just for it to taste like matcha. I've also tried Ryo no Kage from this same brand, and I think it's safe to say that this is just the characteristic of their Usucha line.

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In******, 2024-09-05 14:11 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

First thing: I'm very much a matcha beginner. I drink it mostly for the effects, not the taste; but I'm exploring to figure out if there's a matcha I also *enjoy* drinking. My first impression of Biwa no Shiro was of something like caramel, but without the overt sweetness. After that: sweet cream, backed up by a deep verdant flavor with no bitterness whatsoever - a bit like the smell of a forest when it rains. The finish is long, sugar-sweet, and - indeed - nutty, with more of that delicious caramel flavor. I want to drink this every day!

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Da******, 2024-08-07 01:28 JST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Delicious! Carmen at Sazen recommended this to me when I asked for a good replacement for my usual Maryuku Koyamaen favorites Kiyo no Mori and Sanyu no Shiro & she was spot on. Like the similarly priced MK usuchas I favor for my mornings, Biwa no Shiro is indeed creamy and sweet with a silky substantial milky like texture. Despite making it a bit on the thicker side (I use abt 20% less water than typical recipe calls for) there is no bitterness, astringincy or tannic tastes. There’s a good bit of umami with the sweet and there is indeed a nuttiness like cashew or macadamia that’s very good. Highly recommend this!

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