Saemidori | さえみどり – 50g

Sourcing Information

1. This tea is sourced from a tea refiner in Shizuoka.

2. The refiner procured crude (unrefined) Saemidori tea leaves through the tea market. Although all the leaves come from the same origin—Kagoshima—the specific growing areas and producers vary each year, depending on leaf quality, which is influenced by natural conditions.

What is a tea refiner?

A tea refiner is a company led by seasoned tea professionals—often referred to as tea masters, or Chashi (茶師) in Japanese—who possess deep, hands-on knowledge of both tea farming and consumer preferences. With finely tuned senses and a discerning palate developed through years of experience, they tirelessly seek out and procure high-quality teas, whether directly from farmers or through tea markets.

Tea refiners, especially those based in production regions like Shizuoka, actively build relationships with local growers and often work closely with them. Through processes such as final firing, sorting, and blending, refiners enhance the flavor, aroma, and overall quality of the tea—bringing out its full potential.

While they may appear to be just wholesalers, each tea refiner has a unique philosophy, a preferred flavor profile, and distinct strengths. These differences are reflected in the final taste of the tea, adding another layer of uniqueness on top of the tea’s original characteristics, such as cultivar and terroir.