Nishi Shincha Okumidori

Origin: Nishi San’s Garden, Kirishima Mountain, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Cultivar: Okumidori 
Harvest: May 1, 2023 
Elevation: 280m

Renowned throughout Japan as pioneers of organic tea cultivation, the Nishi family has been one of our strongest partners for organic sencha since 2006. Every year, the Nishi family produces special allocation batches of sencha for us, including this micro-lot of shincha crafted from the Okumidori cultivar. Okumidori translates to “deep green.” It is a hybrid tea bush developed in the 1970s from Yabukita and Shizuoka Zai Rai. Okumidori is a later maturing tea cultivar that is harvested in the middle period of the spring first flush after Saemidori, Asatsuyua, Yutakamidori and Yabukita. The micro-lot was kabuse shade-wrapped prior to harvesting to enhance the deep green jade color and rich taste and fragrance. This batch was mid-steamed and gently roasted to strike a balance of freshness and deep umami taste. The flavor is rich and creamy with a slight and welcomed note of toasted macadamia.

Add 6g tea to a small (150ml/5oz) kyusu teapot. 
Use water cooled to 170°F. 
Infuse for 45 seconds and decant. 
Repeat for another 1-2 infusions for 15 seconds.