Ippodo Tea Hosen Sencha - Medium Balanced Green Tea

Hosen is beautifully balanced—you'll get sweet vegetable notes with a gentle umami character and a golden yellow infusion. It's notably mild and elegant, with just a hint of astringency that keeps things interesting. Multiple reviewers praise how it delivers sweetness without any bitterness, making it incredibly approachable. The aroma is bright and wonderful, and the flavor stays consistent even when you re-steep it 2-3 times.

This is actually an excellent introductory sencha. First-time sencha buyers consistently report positive experiences with Hosen, and Ippodo provides clear, easy-to-follow brewing instructions. The flavor profile is forgiving—it won't turn bitter if your technique isn't perfect—and it gives you a genuine taste of traditional Kyoto-style sencha without overwhelming complexity. That said, it's crafted well enough that enthusiasts appreciate its nuanced balance too.

You're paying for Ippodo's heritage (they've been making tea in Kyoto since 1717) and their traditional light-steamed (asamushi) preparation method. However, it's worth noting that reviewers mention the price is about 2x higher than comparable teas in Japan, and the bag size was reduced from 100g to 80g. So yes, there's a premium attached to the brand name and import costs. Whether that's worth it depends on how much you value that authentic Kyoto pedigree and consistently balanced flavor.

Probably, yes. Multiple reviewers specifically note that Hosen is delicate and subtle, and a couple mention it lacks the potency and depth of higher-grade senchas. Some needed to brew it longer to achieve their desired strength. If you're looking for an assertive, full-bodied sencha, this might feel underwhelming. But if you appreciate elegance and restraint in your tea—something you can sip throughout the day without it being overpowering—Hosen delivers exactly that.

One of Hosen's best features is its re-steeping ability. Reviewers consistently mention getting 2-3 solid infusions from the same leaves while maintaining good flavor. This actually helps justify the price a bit—you're getting more value per bag than you might initially think. It works well both hot and cold, so you can experiment with different brewing styles throughout the day.

Night and day, really. Hosen is a traditional Japanese sencha with fresh, clean leaves that produce a bright aroma and complex flavor profile with distinct sweet and umami notes. Grocery store green tea is typically lower-grade, often tastes flat or overly grassy, and can turn bitter easily. With Hosen, you're getting a product from a 300+ year old tea house that specializes in the craft. The difference is immediately apparent in the aroma, appearance, and taste—this is what quality sencha is supposed to be.