Premium Ceremonial Matcha (Ato Mukashi)

Description

Crafted exclusively for Maison Koko by Shinsuke Tsuji, heir to the Tsujirihei Honten legacy. A bespoke blend developed for us alone, and one of the two highest expressions of our partnership with the house.

Ato Mukashi is a koicha grade designation, marking matcha made in the traditional manner from leaves picked in the twenty days following the eighty-eighth night. Where the earlier picking gives weight, this one gives refinement.

The result is elegant. Rich and deep, but carried with a lightness that keeps it from ever feeling heavy. Umami is generous without dominating, and a natural sweetness runs alongside it. Bitterness and astringency are minimal. Complex and composed, and best appreciated as koicha, where the layers have room to unfold.

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, GMO-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, and Vegetarian.

A note on packaging: Tin and pouch colours may vary. Colours are assigned at random and cannot be selected at this time.

*Tasting notes and colour descriptions reflect general sensory perception and data provided by our supplier, and may vary by individual preference, preparation method, and seasonal batch. We do our best to describe each product as accurately as possible.

*The image is for reference purposes only. The actual colour may vary slightly due to differences in the seasonal batch.

Why Ato Mukashi?

Ato Mukashi is a designation, not a brand name, and it tells you exactly when the leaves were picked and how the tea was made.

Mukashi means the old way

In matcha naming, mukashi marks a tea as koicha grade, made by traditional methods passed down unchanged through generations. It is a production standard rather than a marketing term, used only by houses that still work to it.

Ato means the later picking

Ato Mukashi refers to leaves harvested in the twenty days following the eighty eighth night, the traditional peak of the Japanese tea calendar. The slightly later picking produces a matcha with more delicacy and a more layered, elegant character.

Elegance over weight

This is a matcha of restraint. The depth is there, but it arrives with a lightness and a complexity that reveals itself gradually rather than all at once. For drinkers who prefer nuance to intensity.

Made for Maison Koko by Shinsuke Tsuji

Tsujirihei Honten was founded in 1860 in Uji and has spent more than 160 years working exclusively with Uji tea. This blend was developed for Maison Koko by Shinsuke Tsuji, the heir to that legacy, and is not part of their standard range.

Ingredients

Ceremonial-grade green tea fine powder

Character

• Sweetness: Natural and gentle, running alongside the umami
  
• Umami: Generous and rounded, present without dominating
  
• Bitterness & Astringency: Minimal throughout 
• Complexity: Layered and gradual, delicate rather than bold
• Finish: Clean and refined, elegant rather than weighty
  

Origin

Uji, Kyoto, Japan