Arashi was clearly a top coffee of 2024, and it returns this year with all of the attributes that made last year's offering so delightful. In addition to the incredible complex sweetness of this coffee, a zesty brightness adds a new dimension. We've leaned into this new attribute by profiling this coffee a bit lighter over last year's offering, which in turn, also increases the floral character of this cup. The sugary sweetness is slightly more transparent, from marshmallow to sugarcane, and the prominent pear note from last year shows as a zesty lemon-limeade / candied note this time around. Candy-like sweetness remains across the entire cup, and ties into every part of the mouthfeel, bringing a unique complexity to this coffee. As beautiful as ever, hats off to producer Abel Salinas for another stunner. This marks the beginning of Ecuador season at H&S, with more excellent coffees to follow!