Uji Gyokuro | First Harvest Reserve

Uji Gyokuro | First Harvest Reserve – Shade-Grown First Harvest Green Tea from Kyoto

Uji Gyokuro First Harvest Reserve represents the top tier of Japanese tea craftsmanship. It is grown in the historic, nutrient-rich farmland of Uji, Kyoto — the former capital and the birthplace of Japan's finest teas — and this lot is selected from the best of the prized first harvest.

Gyokuro stands apart because of the care taken before picking. For twenty days ahead of harvest the bushes are shaded from the sun, raising chlorophyll and L-theanine levels in the leaves. After plucking, the leaves are steamed immediately to lock in freshness and then shaped with a traditional rolling dryer into distinctive comma-shaped leaves that protect the plant's delicate fibers and essential oils. The dry leaf is a deep green, comma-shaped leaf; the liquor a pale, dew-like green; the aroma elegant and refined; and the flavor a profound, savory umami sweetness. The texture is silky, with no bitterness at all on the finish. That combination of deep umami and a clean, silky mouthfeel makes it one of the most rewarding green teas available and a genuine taste of Kyoto. It is best prepared gently in a small teapot, served in small cups over several infusions, and paired with delicate Japanese sweets. It also makes an elegant gift for connoisseurs.

Product Profile

• Type: Green tea, gyokuro
• Origin: Uji, Kyoto, Japan
• Harvest: First harvest reserve
• Processing: Shaded 20 days before harvest; steamed; shaped with a traditional rolling dryer
• Dry Leaf: Distinctive comma-shaped deep green leaves
• Liquor / Aroma: Pale, dew-like green; elegant and refined
• Flavor / Texture: Profound savory umami sweetness; silky, no bitterness
• Caffeine: Contains caffeine (green tea)

Key Selling Points

• Authentic Uji, Kyoto origin
• First harvest reserve quality
• Twenty days of shading for deep umami
• Silky texture with no bitterness
• Premium item for tea houses, Japanese menus and gifting

Refined, silky and deeply satisfying, Uji Gyokuro First Harvest Reserve is Japanese tea at its finest for your most discerning customers.