Premium 90 P.
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
| Character | Pleasant umami flavour; simple but strong, mountainous flavours; balanced |
| Tea farm | Small, remote organic tea farm |
| Terroir | Hioki, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan |
| Harvest | 1st harvest (ichibancha), mid-April 2023 |
| Cultivar | Yutakamidori (100%) |
| Elevation | 160m above sea level |
| Steaming | Short (asamushi, 20-40 seconds) |
| Shading | Full shaded, Jikagise, 10-15 days |
| Organic Cert. | EU certified organic, JAS organic |
| Laboratory Tests | Radioactivity (Region 11/2019) |
| Grade | 90/100 p. (gyokuro category); Premium |
We source this tea from a small, family-owned organic tea farm near the ocean in Hioki, which specialises in the organic cultivation of green teas.
A strong yet fresh gyokuro, particularly suitable for discerning tea conoisseurs. The yabukita cultivar lends the tea a full bouquet of aromas, rich in umami and subtle, bitter vegetal notes. The coastal terroir, which is not far from the Pacific Ocean, creates a distinctive freshness and maritime minerality, rounding off the tea's taste. With its classic southern character, this tea a wonderful choice for those looking for an introduction to high-quality gyokuro.
Fine, partly elongated fresh green needles
Soft, light yellow
Gyokuro is considered the finest of all the Japanese green teas. In an elaborate production process, the tea plants are shaded for up to 30 days before harvesting, blocking up to 90% of the sunlight, thereby stimulating the formation of amino acids and preserving the nutrients in the leaves. These give the tea its famous intense sweetness and create a full, strong umami flavour. Only the best leaves from the first harvest of the year is used for authentic gyokuro.
Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.
The remote tea farm is located in the mountainous area between Kagoshima Bay and the open Pacific Ocean. Due to the close proximity to the sea, the air is very mineral and maritime, which is reflected in the fine flavour of teas from this region.
This tea comes directly from the tea field in Hioki, direct purchase from the tea farm.
3 heaped tsp per 200-300ml (55-60°C) water. Steep for 2 minutes. Suitable for several infusions.
Packed in a particularly high-quality, resealable standing pouch with zipper. A coating with 9 protective layers provides extremely high barrier security for maximum protection against the effects of harmful substances.
To serve, a Banko kyusu made from 100% violet original Banko clay is ideal. When fired, this famous clay brings out the gyokuro's flavour, amino acids, chlorophyll and other special ingredients, in the very best way. Vintage kyusus from before 1990 could still be made from 100% original clay from the Banko region. Otherwise, a high-quality shiboridashi, a handleless teapot popular among gyokuro lovers, is suitable for intensive umami infusions.
For keeping this tea fresh, a tea caddy made from cherry tree bark (solid wood, kabazaiku chazutsu), an airtight, laquered tea caddy or an elegant, handcrafted metal Kaikado tea caddy are ideal storage solutions.
The purity of our formulas is important to us. This is why we have both our raw ingredients as well as our finished products extensively tested by independent laboratories to confirm purity and active ingredient content. Here, we have provided the results of some of the tests carried out on this product.
