Yamakai | やまかい

The magic of Shizuoka’s mountain teas — juicy and fruity, sweet yet crystal clear.

One of the rarest teas in Japan — Yamakai accounts for less than 3% of the country’s total tea cultivation. This is the fruitiest green tea in our lineup. It might sound like an exaggeration, but we felt like we were drinking some kind of fruit juice. The clean texture and transparent, slightly yellowish colour reminded us of apple juice.

The clear mouthfeel and intense verdant character are similar to our Koshun — so if you enjoyed that one, this is a natural next pick. While Koshun tends to get astringent especially with hot water, Yamakai doesn’t nearly as much, and is far more fruity. To fully enjoy this bold uniqueness, the leaves are lightly steamed to preserve their natural character — best enjoyed as a single cultivar, unblended.

Grown on the slopes of Mt. Ashitaka at the foot of Mt. Fuji — the same mountain range that produces our Tsuyu-hikari and Harumidori.