This green tea is currently classified as shincha

From the first harvest, this is a very special sencha from Kagoshima prefecture located at the southern tip of Japan. O-Cha.com was the first internet tea shop to offer Sae Midori to the general public outside of Japan and it indeed has proven itself to be a popular choice since introduction.

A very easy to brew green tea! The "Sae Midori" clone of green tea plant is a cross between Yabukita and Asatsuyu varieties and was only just registered in 1990. Since it does not tolerate frost, it is mostly grown in Southern Kagoshima. Strong in color and aroma, but a bit on the sweet side, you will be greeted with a very wonderful, grassy aroma upon opening of the package. Without a doubt, this item offers one of the most intense, emerald green color you will likely ever come across in any green tea. We are sure you will be pleased!

Note that this is a deep steamed green tea with very fine, almost dust-like leaf particles. While you can brew it in a variety of teapots, it is best prepared in a teapot designed for fukamushi-cha (deep steamed green tea)

Available in 100 gram packages.

A very nice handcrafted teapot from Tokoname Japan. While perfect for brewing multiple or single cups of green tea, this teapot was designed for deep steamed green tea (fukamushi-cha) but is suitable for all green teas including gyokuro. Due to the fine, sometimes dust-like nature of fukamushi leaf, small bits of leaf can often get stuck in the stainless steel mesh of many teapots. Unique to this design is the built-in stainless steel infuser screen which covers just a small area of the inside part of the spout.

11 ounces/320ml

A very nice handcrafted teapot from Tokoname Japan. Perfect for brewing single cups of green tea, this teapot was designed for general green tea brewing. Built-in stainless steel infuser screen wraps 360 degrees around the inside of the spout. Very handy and sized for brewing a single cup or two of regular sencha. This teapot ca be used for fukamushi green tea or gyokuro as well. However due to the small leaf particle size of fukamushi-cha, small particles of leaf might occasionally become embedded in the infusor screen. If you are primarily a deep steamed green tea lover, a teapot dedicated to those would probably be more suitable.

Here is a set any green tea lover will enjoy! As our regular customers will attest, the teas included in this gift set are arguably two of the finest sencha green teas you will find online. Each tea is packaged within a very short time of when you place your order, ensuring fresh green tea like you may have never experienced. Save over purchasing each item separately.

Green Tea Gift Set Includes...

Kagoshima Sencha "Yutaka Midori" - 80g

Uji Sencha "Miyabi" - 80g

Green & Orange storage tins made especially for green tea

Decorative gift box.

Handcrafted in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture Japan, this Mogake style teapot was made with gyokuro and light steamed asamushi sencha brewing in mind. The teapot was wrapped with seaweed, causing the salt from the seaweed to oxidize with the clay making a unique pattern on the teapot. Since gyokuro should be brewed at a lower temperature and with double the amount of loose leaf (usually the most expensive green teas available), the use of this special set is ideal for gyokuro enthusiasts, allowing multiple infusions from the same gyokuro leaf.

How to Brew Gyokuro - Step-by-Step Instructions!

The set is intentionally made very small, holding just 60-80ml of water. The lid fits the inside of the teapot wall perfectly and is tilted to whatever degree the brewer would like the gap to be to pour efficiently, eliminating the need for a filter basket. With perhaps the exception of deep steamed green tea, this tea set could also be used for other green teas.

About the maker Hakusan Katayama III

Mr. Hakusan was born into a family with a long standing pottery tradition in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture, a region famous for its outstanding pottery, and he studied under his father Tadayoshi's tutelage. He is a member of the Japan Sencha Crafts Association, and the Tokoname Hand-made Teapot Association. Mr Hakusan has won numerous national prizes for his pottery.

Fukamushi Shincha "Kaoru" - A first rate, first flush green tea. Harvested from the first round of young spring leaves, this 100% Yabukita green tea comes from the famous Makinohara tea growing district in Shizuoka Prefecture. Very green and very thick. This tea has a somewhat more pronounced grassy aroma and taste compared with the average deep steamed green tea and the taste remains on the palate for an extended time.

An overall easy brewer (a teapot for fukuamushi-cha is recommended, however). Be sure to not brew too hot, for too long, or with too much leaf. As with all of our loose leaf green teas, freshly packaged in nitrogen filled bags.

Available in 100 gram packages.

Organic Shincha "Oku Yutaka" - From Shizuoka, a unique breed of Japanese green tea grown organically. A first rate, first harvest, deep steamed green tea, the high quality is obvious from the first sip. Strong "umami" sweetness, less astringent and mellow. As with many organic green teas, it is single estate and is not blended. Harvested from the first round of young spring leaves, it is certified organic. Nitrogen flushed and vacuum packaged, as fresh of an organic green tea as you can get.

Available in 100 gram packages.

New specialty product - A teapot made especially for green tea and for those who are left-handed.  Left-handed Japanese teapots are not that easy to find, especially one designed for deep steamed green tea.  Handcrafted in Tokoname Japan. While perfect for brewing multiple or single cups of green tea, this teapot was designed for deep steamed green tea (fukamushi-cha) but is suitable for all green teas including gyokuro. Due to the fine, sometimes dust-like nature of fukamushi leaf, small bits of leaf can often get stuck in the stainless steel mesh of many teapots. Unique to this design is the built-in stainless steel infuser screen which covers just a small area of the inside part of the spout. 12 ounces/360ml

Packed with umami and one of our personal favorites, this delicious green tea comes from Kagoshima and is of course harvested from the first round of young leaves.  When we first offered this in 2017, we knew we would buy it the moment we tried it. Organic Sae Midori asamushi is a light steamed green tea of the Sae Midori clone and is somewhat rare to be processed in the light steamed form. This product is both flavorful and aromatic, much more so than the typical deep steamed Sae Midori. If you are a light-steamed green tea fan, you should really enjoy this one.  As with all of our loose leaf green teas, packaged in nitrogen flushed packaging.

Note - While we will try to get a larger inventory this year, know that this tea usually sells out every year by December.

Price shown includes 100 grams of tea per package

Handcrafted in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture Japan, this Mogake style Hōhin teapot was made with gyokuro and light steamed asamushi sencha brewing in mind. The teapot was wrapped with seaweed, causing the salt from the seaweed to oxidize with the clay making a unique pattern on the teapot. Since gyokuro should be brewed at a lower temperature and with double the amount of loose leaf (usually the most expensive green teas available), the use of this special set is ideal for gyokuro enthusiasts, allowing multiple infusions from the same gyokuro leaf.

This teapot matches perfectly with our mogake yuzamashi water cooler and mogake teacup.

How to Brew Gyokuro - Step-by-Step Instructions!

The teapot is intentionally made very small, holding just 135 ml of water. The lid fits the inside of the teapot wall perfectly. There is a very well made and thought out spout and the pour is smooth.  This teapot is suitable for any gyokuro or light steamed green tea.  You could probably use it with most medium-steamed green teas though you might get some clogging on the ceramic inner spout.  Not suitable for deep steamed green tea as the fine, dust-like leaf particles.

About the maker Hakusan Katayama III

Mr. Hakusan was born into a family with a long standing pottery tradition in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture, a region famous for its outstanding pottery, and he studied under his father Tadayoshi's tutelage. He is a member of the Japan Sencha Crafts Association, and the Tokoname Hand-made Teapot Association. Mr Hakusan has won numerous national prizes for his pottery.

Handcrafted in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture Japan, this Mogake style Yuzamashi watercooler was made with gyokuro and light steamed asamushi sencha brewing in mind. The watercooler was wrapped with seaweed, causing the salt from the seaweed to oxidize with the clay making a unique pattern on the teapot. Since gyokuro should be brewed at a lower temperature and with double the amount of loose leaf (usually the most expensive green teas available), the use of this special yuzamashi watercooler is ideal for gyokuro enthusiasts, allowing multiple infusions from the same gyokuro leaf.

How to Brew Gyokuro - Step-by-Step Instructions!

The set is intentionally made very small, holding just 135 ml of water. The lid fits the inside of the teapot wall perfectly. There is a very well made and thought out spout and the pour is smooth.  This teapot is suitable for any gyokuro or light steamed green tea.  You could probably use it with most medium-steamed green teas though you might get some clogging on the ceramic inner spout.  Not suitable for deep steamed green tea as the fine, dust-like leaf particles.

About the maker Hakusan Katayama III

Mr. Hakusan was born into a family with a long standing pottery tradition in Tokoname, Aichi prefecture, a region famous for its outstanding pottery, and he studied under his father Tadayoshi's tutelage. He is a member of the Japan Sencha Crafts Association, and the Tokoname Hand-made Teapot Association. Mr Hakusan has won numerous national prizes for his pottery.

Measures approximately 4.5 cm high, 7.5 cm x 10 cm wide, and holds about 140 ml

Harvested from the first round of young spring leaves, this 100% Yabukita green tea comes from the Makinohara tea growing district in Shizuoka Prefecture. We recently came across this gem and snapped it up on the spot - this is one very delicous sencha green tea! Sencha "Mio" is medium-steamed has a somewhat more pronounced grassy aroma and taste compared with the average deep steamed green tea and the taste remains on the palate for an extended time.

An overall easy brewer (a teapot for fukuamushi-cha is recommended, however). Be sure to not brew too hot, for too long, or with too much leaf. As with all of our loose leaf green teas, freshly packaged in nitrogen filled bags.

Price shown includes 100 grams of tea per package.

Handcrafted in Tokoname Prefecture,Japan. This type of teapot is becoming harder to find over the years. Since gyokuro should be brewed at a lower temperature with double the amount of loose leaf, notwithstading the fact that gyokuro is usually the most expensive type of loose leaf green tea available, the use of this teapot is ideal for gyokuro enthusiasts.  Multiple small infusions for individual cups. This teapot also works great for light steamed asamushi sencha as well.

How to Brew Gyokuro - Step-by-Step Instructions!

The actual size of this teapot is purposefully small, measuring 10.5 cm wide x 5.3 cm tall (4" x 2") and holding about 100ml / 3.4 ounces of water. The thin gap between the in the inner body of the teapot and the lid eliminate the need for a filter basket.

Important to note - While this teapot could be used with larger leaf green teas (light steamed green tea), it is not suitable for anything with a fine leaf particle such as deep steamed green tea (fukamushi-cha).

The craftsmanship of these items is superb and many not-so-obvious fine details went into making this teapot. Please note that since each of these items are had crafted, they may very slightly from the shown images. So if you are a regular gyokuro drinker or have ever considered a foray into gyokuro, you will be hard pressed to find a better teapot for it than our handmade shiboridashi and houhin teapots!