M’s Yabukita Sencha is grown at the base of Mount Fuji. This unique tea-growing region is known for its black volcanic soil and classic sencha green tea that is boosted by the mineral-rich snowmelt descending from Japan’s most iconic mountain. M’s tea gardens are situated at 200–600 meters above sea level with well-drained and nutrient-retentive soil, which is the ideal environment for cultivating high-quality and umami-rich tea. This micro-lot of fukamushi sencha was produced by two childhood friends from the Fuji region of Shizuoka: Masahiro Sugiyama and Masashi Mochizuki. They eventually named their namesake tea company “M’s.” M’s teas are produced with organic compost, combining local mushroom substrate and chicken waste from a JAS-organic certified poultry farm. Their mission is to promote sustainable agriculture while producing rich teas in one of the most prestigious tea regions of Shizuoka. M’s fukamushi kabuse shaded sencha is balanced with rich umami and the classic bittersweet and brisk character of Shizuoka Sencha. The top notes evoke alpine and wildflowers with a deep kabuse aroma. We recommend brewing this tea in a kyusu teapot with a fine mesh or sasame filter to savor its opaque and deep green, juicy character. To enjoy as a cold brew, simply add 12 grams of tea leaves to one liter of water and infuse for five hours.

Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan