Yamafuji Gyokuro
KogachaVelvety, powerful, and umami-rich, this Yame gyokuro displays the mellowness and qualities that make this region so famed for its exemplary gyokuro.
Yamafuji (山藤) translates to 'Wild Wisteria' or 'Mountain Wisteria', in reference to the vibrant pink and purple flowers that colour the mountainous landscape during spring.
Producer: Kogacha
Region: Yame, Fukuoka
Harvested: May, 2025
Located in the south of Japan, Yame (八女) is best known for its shaded teas, namely gyokuro and matcha. Each year, the award for the best gyokuro in Japan usually goes to Yame (with Uji in second place).
Part of why Yame excels is their preservation of high-quality, traditional shading practices in the form of Yame Dento Hon Gyokuro (八女伝統本玉露): Yame Traditional True Gyokuro. This designation is applied to hand-picked teas shaded under straw for at least two weeks.
Outside of their gyokuro, Yame is known for finishing their teas with a relatively strong firing, imparting a nutty aroma, especially in their matcha and sencha.
Brewing Instructions
Traditional
Hot Tea
Use 4 g (0.14 oz) of tea leaves for every 50 ml (1.70 oz) of water
Heat your water to 45º C (113º F), adding 10º C (18º F) for each subsequent infusion or cool boiling water by pouring it into a yuzamashi, into the cups, then into the teapot
Let it steep for 2 minutes (30 seconds for 2nd infusion, +15 seconds for each subsequent infusion) before pouring slowly until the last drop. Enjoy!
Kogacha (古賀茶)
Remaining a family business to this day, Kogacha is headed by Koga Satoko, a Nihoncha Advisor and Associate Professor of the Urasenke school of Tea Ceremony. Head of tea blending is 7th-dan chashi Koga Kazuhiro with 6th-dan chashi and Nihoncha Instructor Koga Tomoko managing the team.
Founded in 1938, Kogacha is dedicated to promoting and improving the true flavour of Yamecha: tea from Yame, Fukuoka. One of their specialties, and a tea well-known from the area, is gyokuro. Additionally, Kogacha produces matcha, sencha, and even experiments with white-leaf teas.