Zairai Ikumi | 在来 伊久美

Where Kawagiri began — powerful, natural umami

This Zairai from Ikumi is where Kawagiri Tea began. Grown from native tea bushes that have been rooted in this land for generations — without pesticides, without chemical fertilizers. Everything about this tea is shaped by the soil, the water, and the quiet patience of the grower.

What strikes you first is the umami. It’s powerful — but not in the way you might expect. Most teas achieve strong umami through heavy use of chemical fertilizers. This one does it naturally, and you can taste the difference. The umami is deep, but the body stays clean and transparent — like a clear broth that carries more flavour than it looks. The kind of tea you find yourself reaching for cup after cup.

Zairai bushes are grown from seed, not cuttings. Each plant is genetically unique, making every field almost a natural blend. They’re wild, resilient, and deeply rooted — but they don’t lend themselves to mass production. This is a genuinely rare, small-batch tea made possible by the generosity of Mr. Ohashi at Appare-chaen, who has maintained this extraordinary field in the mountains of Ikumi.

Cold brewed, the umami becomes even more pronounced — making this one of our two most recommended green teas for cold brew, alongside our Koshun. At events, the cold brew of this tea has consistently been one of the most popular tastings.