#0349.K2 Tanegashima Island Shoju 2026 (micro batch, limited) - Single Cultivar Sencha - Iba Takahiro Tea GardenOne of the first (if not THE first) harvest of the season! Shoju is a rare cultivar grown by Tanegashima Island tea farmer Iba Takahiro, shaded for about 10 days, and harvested in the third week of March making it one of the earliest teas harvested in Japan. As such, Iba san is interviewed by TV crews every year! 2024s harvest was the second earliest in history on March 18 (2010 was the earliest at March 16). Iba san says he determines the harvest by

The Kanaya Midori cultivar matcha from Azuma-san has nutty

Kamairicha products are mostly made in the Kyushu region

Osaka Prefecture

Since the late 17th century

no chemical fertilizers

Kamairicha is green tea which is made by heating the leaves in a pan instead of the typical steaming process that senchas go through

family operated tea factory

Okumidori cultivar matcha

Matsumoto-san has been experimenting with other woods such as sakura (cherry blossom)

Tea research institutions operated by the Ministry of Agriculture in each major tea region constantly experiment to create new cultivars

Great Taste Awards 2020 (2 Stars)

Notes: Grown without use of pesticides