Shirakawa Uji-Hikari Matcha

Name: Shirakawa Uji-Hikari Matcha
Brand: Tezumi Specialty
SKU: US-TEA-M25
Price: 46.00 USD
Availability: InStock

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20 grams

Single Origin | Single Cultivar

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Clean, bright, and complex, Kiyoharu Tsuji’s version of this fan favourite cultivar is an incredibly unique and special matcha

Located a short drive south of Uji City, Shirakawa's tea fields are nestled among rolling hills. Known primarily for producing high-grade gyokuro. Though much smaller than the nearby Wazuka and Ujitawara regions, Shirakawa is a prime growing area for top-tier Ujicha

Cultivar: Uji-Hikari

Region: Shirakawa, Kyoto

Producer: Tsujiki

Harvested: May 6th, 2024

Shading: Kanreisha: 40 Days

Picking: Hand-picked

Brewing Instructions

Tea/Water Ratio

1.5-2g (2 tea scoops)
60ml (2oz) of water

Water Temperature

70º C (158ºF)

Whisking

20 seconds

Meet the Producer

Seicha Tsujiki (製茶辻喜)

This tea producer needs no introduction. Headed by fifth generation tencha farmer, Tsuji Kiyoharu (辻喜代治) whose name is legendary in the tea world, they have won countless prestigious awards for their peerless matcha. Tsuji-san’s personal mission is to push the boundaries of matcha production by combining traditional techniques with cutting-edge techniques and his own creativity and ingenuity. In doing so, he has set records for the amount of amino acids (umami compounds) concentrated in his tea leaves, at percentages over double the usual amount. His teas have won first place recognition on the regional and national level multiple times, making him the most awarded tencha farmer in Japan.

Tsujiki’s extreme level of umami comes from an equally extreme approach to tencha production. Tsuji-san uses a top-secret self-crafted mix of high-grade organic fertiliser, which he applies to the plants at double the normal rate, stuffing the leaves full of nutrients and umami compounds. On top of this, he shades his plants at 95% darkness, 10% more than most farms, which further amplifies and concentrates the umami. Lastly, he picks his plants only once per year, entirely by hand, ensuring that the maximum amount of umami can be presented in the final tea.

Cultivar: Uji-Hikari

Meaning ‘the light of Uji’, Uji-hikari was selected from Uji zairai in 1954. Despite its age, it is still an unregistered cultivar that is nonetheless popular in Kyoto for use in gyokuro and matcha production. Its leaves have a distinctive wavy pattern and are relatively thin, making them ideal for shaded tea production.

Uji-hikari has a rather distinct character which means it is rarely sold unblended. Strong with a powerful attack, deep umami, and a touch of astringency, Uji-hikari’s characteristics are easily recognisable and make for unique teas when sold as single cultivar.