KUMAMOTO EARTHQUAKE RELIEF DONATION NEW 2026 SHINCHA "Sakuranoen" Sencha; Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, 50g. Naturally grown.

"Sakuranoen" Sencha - 2026 Shincha (New Harvest Tea). Naturally grown with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Origin: Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture. Farmer Matsumoto Kazuya.
Cultivar: Yabukita, Saemidori, Ooiwase, Yutakamidori, Kanayamidori, and Meiryoku Blend. 

**This product is sold in the original retail packaging, direct from the producer. Despite difficult conditions in Kumamoto following the 7.1 earthquake on July 28th, farmer Matsumoto was able to send me some of his tea. I've paid full retail for these, plus shipping, so that farmers are getting help after the disaster, and 100% of my sales of this tea will go back to Kumamoto to assist artisans affected by the earthquake.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS TEA PRICE DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE $100 FREE SHIPPING ORDER TOTAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.** 

A first harvest, ichibancha, Sencha picked in late-April to early-May, "Sakuranoen" Sencha is this farm's signature green tea. It has a good balance of umami (savoriness), amami (sweetness), and shibumi (astringency), that is "nomiyasui" (easy to drink, or drinks very smoothly.) With lower water temperatures and longer infusion times, there is considerable honeydew melon-like sweetness, a light nutty savoriness, and low astringency over several infusions. Increased temperatures bring out a moderate level of citrusy astringency, but is still smooth with sweet and umami notes.

Founder Matsumoto Katsuyoshi began planting a tea farm in the Sakurano-kami region of Minamata, Kumamoto, in 1927. It was named "SakuranoEn" by noted Japanese journalist and historian, Tokutomi Sohou (born in Minamata in 1863, when Kumamoto was still Higo Province.) Since 1990, the Matsumoto family has been pursuing natural farming methods that do not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. In 2005, they began to eliminate fertilizers and pesticides altogether. Their teas are grown at altitudes ranging from 250-600 meters. At this time, they are even using biodiesel from used tempura oil to power their farming equipment, maintaining the importance of being good stewards of the land in order to make the best tea possible.    

Kumamoto Prefecture ranks about 9th in Japan tea production among the 47  prefectures, but has not been one of the better-known tea regions domestically or internationally. In the Minamata area, blessed with higher altitude plantations and rich volcanic soil, there is a movement toward naturally-grown tea practices, and fine artisan teas there are now starting to be recognized inside and outside of Japan.