Horii Shichimeien Premium Narino (own garden) review

Overview

Narino is an unusual cultivar to see at the top of a brand's range. Most of the famous premium koichas are Asahi or blends. Horii grows Narino on their own land and offers it as a deliberate alternative.

Flavor

Umami is high but not maxed (4/5), sweetness reads as floral, texture is creamy. Vegetal is moderate. None of the heavy-greens profile you get from a high-vegetal Asahi.

Verdict

Drink it as usucha. Thin, the floral sweetness stays forward. As koicha it's pleasant but you'll miss the seaweed-and-cream depth that the standard premium cultivars give you.