Japanese Tea Cultivar

Japanese tea cultivar was started with “Yabukita”. In 1908, Hikosaburo Sugiyama found an excellent tea tree among selected native varieties trees in Shizuoka prefecture. That tree was grown on the north side of bushes. He named that excellent tree “Yabukita” (薮北). That was the story of the first tea cultivar in Japan. Since then, many cultivars have been breeding in multiple research institutes.

Each cultivar has different characteristics of tastes, aroma, leaf color, watercolor, harvest season, resistance to disease, insect, and cold weather. And some cultivars were bred to be used for specific tea types. Recent some new cultivars were aimed to meet the preferences of overseas Japanese tea lovers.

In this section, we keep adding contents of Japanese tea cultivar information such as pedigree and taste characteristics. And we hope it will help you to choose your single cultivar tea products and find your favorite tastes.

Name

Benifuki

“Benifuki” green tea contains methylated catechin.
Methylated catechins have been reported to reduce discomfort in the eyes and nose caused by pollen, dust, and house dust.

Pedigree

Tastes

Tea Field

Product Link

Benifuki Sencha Powder

Haruto34

“Haruto34” surpasses “Saemidori” with umami taste, and the shoots green color is darker than “Saemidori”. It is rated as a sweet aroma, gentle taste, and subtle astringent bitter tastes.

Gyokuro – Chameijin

Matcha Hime

Kirari31

Less catechins and more amino acids than “Yabukita” or “Saemidori”.
Good for variety of tea types, and is evaluated as the same or better color, taste, and aroma as “Saemidori”.

Karigane A

Minamisayaka

“Minamisayaka” has a characteristic aroma that combination of milky fragrance and a floral aroma like gardenia or jasmine and a fruity aroma.
And it tastes sweet, clear, and refreshing.

Oolong Tea – Minamisayaka

Okumidori

“Okumidori” has dark green watercolor, and gives you a great balance of umami and astringent tastes.

Enjoy the elegant sweetness and light aftertaste.

Gyokuro – Wakamusha

Sencha – Okumidori

Saemidori

Many farmers choose “Saemidori” for their highest grade teas because it gives you rich umami, sweetness, and thick aroma while less astringent and bitter tastes.

Matcha Sae

Gyokuro Sasahime

Matcha Handpickec Saemidori

Sakimidori

“Sakimidori” has bright fresh green leaves and wonderful watercolor.
It has a citrusy flavor reminiscent of summer, and has a mild, unctuous taste and aroma.

Kamairicha – Handpicked Sakimidori

Seimei

Strong umami taste, sweet creamy aroma, and low astringency.
The umami flavor and the sweetness is the strongest among the cultivars available today.
Beautiful bright green leaf color.