This is the Kirin Namacha, the precursor to the much enjoyed Hōji Sencha and Decaf versions and the one I first enjoyed in copious amounts during our a trip to Japan before finding it available in Australia in the last few years.
The tea was a cloudy golden yellow-green colour with a rich, gentle sweet green tea aroma. Served chilled, the vegetal notes came through with a fresh, natural sweetness before an immensely pleasant umami quality emerged in the body and a touch of bitterness and minor astringency finished the sip. The tea had a refined, well-rounded and refreshing flavour that balanced the deep sweetness, the rich umami, and the subtlest bitterness that can come naturally from steamed green tea. It was the most enjoyable bottled green tea.
This Kirin Namacha contained 2 L. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2021.