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Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha 2026

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha 2026

$22.90
$0.00 $22.90
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🍃 Pesticide free

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Learn all the secrets of the Shincha Yakushima Kuritawase

The Shincha Yakushima Kuritawase is a delicious tea that’s first to be harvested in the spring of each year on the beautiful island of Yakushima

Taste

Discover the results of Nio Teas’ 4 step tea tasting method

To evaluate the flavor of the Shincha Yakushima Kuritawase we look for a combination of the aroma and also how the tea interacts with the palate. Does it produce a dryness, acidity, minerality, sweetness or umami? We’ll also evaluate the texture of the tea, otherwise known as mouthfeel. Finally, for sencha tea, we’ll evaluate it based on how vegetal the taste profile is as this is a common characteristic throughout most sencha teas. 

Step 1 - Observing the Appearance

This is a japanese sencha green tea loose leaf and the leaves are on the lighter side, as the tea is unshaded and they are rolled into tight needle shapes with some smaller leaf particles. 

Step 2 - Assessing the Aroma

The aroma coming off the sencha green tea loose leaf leaves is light and citrusy, with a tiny hint of these marine or steamed spinach notes.

Step 3 - Tasting the Tea

This tea starts off with a light sweetness and then transitions into a flowery freshness. The tea begins to drift into a light umami, but it is not too strong. There is also a bit of hazelnut nuttiness and sweet corn in the finish.

Step 4 - Evaluating the sensation on the palate

The structure of this kuritawase sencha is quite complex. There is some sweetness to it, but it is well-balanced by the fresh acidity and umami of the mid-palate. The tea doesn’t stray too far in any one direction, but rather plays in the realm of subtlety and nuance.

100% Organically grown and Ethically Sourced

At Nio, we like to partner with tea farmers who prioritize organic farming practices and avoid harmful pesticides or chemicals. We firmly believe that this more natural approach to farming enhances the flavor of the tea and promotes the sustainability and vitality of the tea fields.

Based on our experience, tea plantations that adopt these organic farming techniques cultivate strong and healthy tea plants, while fostering a diverse ecosystem that sustains a variety of plant and animal species.

Nio Teas Unique Organically grown sourcing process

  • We meticulously conduct taste tests to identify the perfect flavor profile for each tea, ensuring that only the finest teas make it to our collection.
  • We communicate with farmers to gain insights into their organic and chemical-free farming practices, building strong relationships based on mutual respect
  • We personally visit tea plantations to assess the quality of the plants and manufacturing facilities
  • We evaluate the surrounding ecosystem to ensure the preservation of the plant and wildlife species

JAS Certified

At Nio, we partner with tea farmers who follow pesticide and chemical-free farming practices. Some of our teas, such as the kuritawase sencha, proudly carry the JAS logo, signifying compliance with Japanese Agriculture Standards. These strict standards prohibit the use of pesticides and chemicals in tea cultivation.

We ask that the larger farmers we work with produce the JAS certification, which is obtained through thorough soil sampling and analysis, ensuring that their teas meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

We also understand that smaller tea farmers may have limited resources for soil testing. Therefore, we accept their teas under the "pesticide-free" label. This provides them with an opportunity to showcase their teas while still maintaining our commitment to sustainability and excellence.

How to prepare the tea

To prepare this Kuritawase sencha, you can use a lower temperature water and a shorter brewing time. 1 minute should be more than enough time to extract a delicious flavor from the green tea.

  • Step 1

    First, heat the water to a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This will be the perfect temperature for this kuritawase sencha

  • Step 2

    Add 5 grams of the kuritawase to your kyusu teapot and then pour in 150ml of the water you heated previously.

  • Step 3

    Allow the tea leaves to brew in the water undisturbed for 1 minute, which should be enough time for the tea leaves to open up and release their flavor into the water.

  • Step 4

    After the brewing time is up, you can pour out your yakushima kuritawase sencha and the teapot will automatically filter out the leaves so they don’t end up in your cup. Enjoy your tea!

  • 2nd brew

    Don't throw the tea leaves just yet! The yakushima kuritawase sencha can be brewed 2-3 more times. To reinfuse the tea, you can pour additional hot water into the teapot and allow the leaves to brew for 20 seconds.

  • Cold brew

    We do not recommend cold brewing the yakushima kuritawase sencha

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Necessary teaware

To brew up a delicious cup of this yakushima kuritawase sencha, we recommend you pick up a kyusu teapot. The ideal teapot for this is the Fukamushi teapot, which has a circular mesh filter that makes it easier to filter out the tea leaves as you pour.

Alternative without teaware 

If you’re not able to get a teapot, the next best thing is using a tea strainer for the  yakushima kuritawase sencha. This will not only separate the tea leaves out as you pour but also stop the infusion so the tea doesn’t overbrew. 

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Location of production and farmer

Information about the farm

In the middle of the wooded mountains, the Fujiwara family manages a small tea garden where they carefully handcraft the Yakushima Shincha.

Fujiwara-san has fulfilled a long time dream by creating his own organic tea gardens. At the same time, he has really become a pioneer for organic cultivation in the region and it is a privilege to work with him!

Sourced in Yakushima

Japan

The Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha is grown on the beautiful island of Yakushima in the far South of Japan. This island benefits from lots of rainfall, mountainous terrain and a mild subtropical climate, making the perfect growing conditions for Japanese green tea. When we visited Yakushima Island, we were blown away not only by the diversity of wildlife, but also the people's commitment to protecting it.

Cultivar and tea plant variety

As the name would suggest, the Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha is made from the Kuritawase cultivar, a rare cultivar in Japan.

  • Kuritawase

    The kuritawase cultivar is very rare in Japan as a whole, but it can be found on the islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima. It buds earlier than the common yabukita and it’s used in a sencha to produce a yellow liquor, a pleasant milky aroma and a smoothe flavor that has less astringency.

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Free Worldwide Shipping & Delivery

All orders qualify for free shipping, and we strive to use the most cost-effective shipping carrier available for your country. For customers in the U.S and E.U, shipping time typically takes 5-7 days, while for customers outside these regions, it may take approximately 10 days. We also offer faster shipping options for an additional fee, depending on the country.

Order issues

If you encounter any issues with your order, please contact us immediately via email at info@nioteas.com, as this is the best platform for customer service inquiries. For quick questions, you may also reach out to us via direct message on Instagram at @nio_japanese_green_tea.

Payments

We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, and Apple Pay for payment. If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, simply select the option during checkout, and we will provide you with further details. Your order will be shipped once the payment has been successfully processed.

Returns & Refunds

We are committed to ensuring that every customer has a positive tea experience with Nio. If you are unsatisfied with the tea you receive, please let us know, and we would be happy to send you a replacement. Your satisfaction is our priority.

Customer Reviews

Overall rating: 4.7 / 5 from 23 reviews.

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

The Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha is really good. I ordered a pack and ordered more as soon I tasted it. Subtle flavour, full of character. Great

Christian D. 4/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Dusty dry leaf, smells sweet like roasted green melon or cantaloupe, light green residue everywhere, smells so yummyyyy Taste, bit of a zing to it, mellow but spoken, no dryness, odd, like a wet puddle, rain forest moist air mist in my mouth. Little baby astringency, yellowish greenish color saturated moderately, soupy. Slurpy goodness, a brain teaser for sure. Theres that zing again, not bright af but not dull, cant find words.... moves like a liquor, tastes like a dewy aged matt of grass with some slightly humid moss atop it? Asparagus tenders Long lasting moist, stickiness in the mouth, sweetness, amylase party, coating my teeth and roof of my mouth in biocompounds... this is so.. good? Im so confused, its COOL! On Ice Koridashi style: Fresh cut romaine lettuce, an herbal bite to it, green apple, mature Cucumber, freeze dried strawberry. Wet painted turtles without a thought between their eyes.

Tristan M. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer video review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

A very fresh Shincha Yakushima Kuritawase, a Japanese tea that enchants with its fresh and complex bouquet. At the first sip, a lively aroma envelops you, where the unmistakable marine notes of nori seaweed and a hint of savouriness gently emerge, giving the palate a unique sensation. The perfect balance of sweetness and umami gives an extraordinary freshness, leaving a long persistence in the mouth, with an aftertaste reminiscent of unripe grape skins, a childhood memory. Perfect for a morning pampering that awakens the senses and gives energy. Follow me at @gong.fu.panda on insta for discount codes and more tea reviews!

Luca R. 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Some tasting notes i could detect during different phases of trying this tea: Dry leaf - cured parma ham (prosciutto), smoked salmon and cream pastries, wakame, white soy sakura arare, sakura leaf senbei (reminds me of those two savoury snacks from a sakuraco box I bought) keloggs cereal and a yeasty note of freshly kneaded dough for baozi buns. Wet leaf - baked salmon (but not in the fishy sense) with fresh lovage leaves and lemon juice, hint of white pepper, hot clay, hint of dried rosewood and steamed spinach. Texture - thick, resinous, lingers quite long. Taste - not as umami as a gyokuro, a little more delicate and approachable (if you love an umami bomb, you might have to brew this for a little longer than recommended but if you feel overwhelmed by a lot of Japanese teas and want to get into them, this is the perfect one to go for imo) has notes of creamy spinach, lovage, avocado, homemade humus and bitter cucumber with a hint of starfruit. Overall this tea surprised me more than I anticipated. As much as I love a strong umami green, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming if I haven't had such a tea in a long time and I think this Sincha also shows that there is so much more on the market than that, this one is a little more delicate and lighter, more akin to some Chinese greens I've had except it still has that savoury richness that many Japanese green teas are known and loved for.

Shelly 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Steeped according to pkg reccomendation and enjoyed a beautiful light green hue tea liquor with fresh spring Sakura, sweet, salty, umami broth. I’ve steeped this chilled over ice and warm and loved it both ways.

Julia M. 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

This tea was great! I think I actually prefer it to the Tanegashima kuritawase. The flavor is a bit richer and the aroma is more powerful

Scott S. 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Customer photo review of Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

I loved this tea! I was afraid that my relative inexperience with high quality Japanese green tea would mean the result would be lacking, but the tea was so sweet and smooth with a stunningly long sweet finish.

Ginger 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Der Bio-Shincha schmeckt so reich und intensive, wie die Shincha Sorten, die ich damals in Japan gekauft habe. Er ist der Hammer! So ein reicher intensiver Geschmack! Wunderbar! Genau was ich gesucht hatte. Andere Bio-Shincha aus anderen Online-Quellen schafften das nicht. Werde ich wieder kaufen!

Jutta O. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

This is very nice green tea, and is definitely less astringent than some others, as per your descriptions. I am far from being an expert on green tea because I make a pot of green tea and a pot of hibiscus flower tea and combine them, so I am not the best judge of the individual teas themselves.

Virginia W. 4/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

What a great Yakushima shincha! I think overall I liked this one slightly better than the yabukita, but they are all good

Darren C. 5/5

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

This sencha tea from Nio is a great choice for anyone who enjoys a milder tea with a clean, refreshing taste. It's perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or a relaxing evening beverage.

Isla G. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

I was impressed with the quality of this little sencha. The flavor is clean and fresh, and it has a pleasant aftertaste that lingers in the mouth.

Chloe W. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

I've been a fan of sencha tea for years, and this one from did not disappoint. The flavor is well-balanced and not too strong, making it a nice choice for a daily cup of tea.

Nolan S. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

The sencha tea from Nio has a balanced flavor profile with a hint of sweetness and vegetal notes that provide a smooth and pleasant taste.

Ethan R. 4/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

This Kuritawase sencha is a great value for the price. It's affordable and has a nice, subtle flavor that is enjoyable without being overpowering.

Harper W. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

The sencha tea from Nio has a nice aroma and a subtle taste that's not too overpowering. It's a good choice for those who prefer a more delicate tea like me!

Caleb B. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

I appreciate the freshness of the sencha tea. It has a clean finish and is easy to drink without any overpowering notes and there is a subtle sweetness to it

Madison A. 5/5 Verified

Yakushima Kuritawase Shincha

Shincha Yakushima Kuritawase learning plateform

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