Gyokuro green tea

🍃 Gyokuro green tea: the latest addition to Japan's great green teas

Gyokuro is a rare Japanese green tea, representing less than 1% of production , with just over 580 tons in 2023. Production is concentrated in Mie and Kyoto. Fukuoka, despite having the renowned Yame terroir, accounts for less than 10% of gyokuro production .

To put it simply, gyokuro is a combination of sencha production and matcha cultivation . In the fields, the tea bushes are covered three weeks before harvest using the same methods as for tencha (matcha), while its production is almost identical to that of sencha. This combination results in a very mild tea with a high umami flavor, further enhanced by its low-temperature brewing method .

A brief historical overview

Gyokuro is considered the most refined of Japanese teas , although it appeared relatively late in the history of tea in Japan. The exact origins of its creation remain uncertain: some attribute it to the tea master Ogawa Kashin (1786-1855) , who is said to have developed it in 1834 , while others point to Yamamoto Kahei in 1835. Traditionally, Gyokuro is one of the teas favored in the context of senchadō , a form of Japanese tea ceremony distinct from chanoyu. While the first schools of senchadō were structured at the end of the 19th century, the practice itself has its origins as early as the beginning of the 18th century . Depending on the school, either sencha or gyokuro is primarily used , each reflecting a different approach to the art of tea.

Gyokuro preparation

In terms of usage, gyokuro is traditionally consumed with water at 50°, like all Japanese green teas, the parameters are subject to change depending on the terroir, the cultivar and even your desires, and the recommendations below although classic may not be the most suitable for your tea.

👉 For optimal enjoyment, use 10g of gyokuro with 60ml of water at 50°C, wait two minutes and thirty seconds, and serve. You can use these same parameters for the next two infusions.

• 60 ml at 50°C for 2 minutes and 30 seconds

• 120 ml at 90° for 30 seconds.

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