2024 Sencha First Flush: Handpicked Yabukita at Harayama

Cultivated variety: Yabukita
Shading period: 0 days
Cultivation method: Pesticide-free, No fertilizer

All the tea leaves harvested from this field were handpicked by the staff of d:matcha Kyoto. 
(Since the slope is very steep and dangerous, the staff picked it by hand instead of using a machine)

We started harvesting the tea at 6:30 AM in a very cold weather, especially because the location of the field is at the top of Harayama mountain. The good news is our excitement conquers the cold weather (around 8 C) and we're so happy that it's the first field we harvested this year!

Watch us handpicking the tea at Harayama.

Also, we operate our newly acquired (in-house) tea factory to produce all the Sencha! Unlike the large machines at the cooperative factory we used in the past two years, the machines at the individual factory are smaller, allowing the leaves to retain their original shape during processing. The rolling process is also gentler, resulting in a tea with less bitterness. Brewing it at a slightly higher temperature for a longer time than usual brings out a robust flavor.

Floral Aroma of Harayama Field

This field has a unique floral aroma every year, which is a characteristic that other areas do not have.

The birthplace of tea cultivation in Wazuka: Mt. Jubu At Harayama

Located 400m above sea-level, our Harayama tea field lies on the side of Mount Jubu, in the eastern region of Wazuka. This Harayama area is where tea was first planted in Wazuka about 800 years ago.
The beginning of tea cultivation in Wazuka is said to have started in the Kamakura period when the monk of Kaijusenji Temple received tea seeds and sowed them at Mt. Jubu.
There is a d:matcha field on the mountainside of the steep Mt. Jubu climbing trail.
The farm is located on a steep cliff, and the farm work is very hard.
(We have captured the road to the Harayama field in a video. Please take a look.)

The Harayama area, which is considered one of  the best soils in Wazuka

The Harayama area is an area that is particularly highly valued for producing delicious sencha in Wazuka.
Among the Harayama area, this farm on the steep slope is a tea garden with strong vitality.

Cultivation method that enhances the aroma

To enhance the unique floral aroma, this field was not shaded, fertilised, and used any pesticides. So, it allows you to understand the power of the soil in this field.

A bundle Harayama Sencha set

We have created a bundle set to enjoy the comparison of 2 years Harayama sencha; year 2023 and 2024.

Last year's tea has a stronger aroma, and this year's tea has milder taste. Why not compare the differences in taste?

Additional Information:

• 30 g / 1.05 oz. Approximately 7 servings; please note that each serving can be brewed up to three times using water of different temperature levels.
• A bundle set includes 2 bags of Sencha Harayama (year 2023 and 2024), each bag contains 30g.

Note:

• Since we produce it in our own factory, there is slightly adjustment for the first brew
• Brew it around 2.5 minutes with the temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Celcius