Matcha Tea
Sōkyū Organic

Contest Grade 98 P.

SKU
8362-bio
An excellent contest grade organic Matcha from the famous tea region of Uji in Kyoto, known for traditional, high-quality Matcha and Gyokuro. The Ujihikari cultivar developed in Uji gives this Matcha rich notes and a creamy mouthfeel. Fully shaded for up to 32 days, grown by one of the region's leading Matcha farmers. 20g
  • Cultivated and ground in the famous Uji region, the birthplace of Matcha, featuring Japan's finest tencha terroir
  • Elaborate Tana shading
  • Rare Ujihikari cultivar, perfect for achieving the distinctive, umami-rich character of Uji Matcha
  • Carefully ground in-house using traditional granite stone mills for a delicate texture
  • Continuous monitoring by the tea farmer to ensure optimal quality
  • Hand-picked with precision for the finest leaves
Preparation Suitable for Usucha and Koicha (intense!)
Character Exceptional Uji umami taste with a green vegetal sweetness reminiscent of sugar snap peas or edamame, rich notes of cooked tomato, creamy-foamy texture
Tea Farm One of the leading Matcha farmers in Uji
Terroir Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Harvest Hand-picked (Tezumi); 1st Harvest (Ichibancha), May 2023
Cultivar Ujihikari
Grind Granite stone mill
Elevation 15m above sea level
Shading Full shading, 32 days, Tana (2-ply)
Cultivation Certified organic cultivation
Laboratory Tests Radioactivity (annual test of region), pesticides, heavy metals and aluminium
Grade 98/100 p. (Matcha category); Contest Grade
€36.90
20g

Delivery :

Incl. VAT, excl. shipping

SKU
8362-bio
€1,845.00 / 1kg
In stock

Tea Farm

Our farmer from the heart of Uji is without doubt one of the most outstanding matcha experts in all of Japan. When we first tasted his teas, we could hardly believe that such excellent matcha teas could even exist in organic farming. From the selection of cultivars – including the rare Ujihikari with its extremely low yield – to the organic fertilizers made from rapeseed oil cake and fish meal, as well as the painstaking hand-picking and slow grinding on traditional granite stone mills, perfection is evident in every step.

Over 10 years ago, our farmer was inspired to produce organic Matcha of exceptional quality after being served an organic Matcha in Europe for the first time – an experience he found shockingly bad. Driven by the vision of offering authentic, top-quality organic matcha abroad, he began transitioning his fields to organic farming, despite the challenges of lower yields and increased pest vulnerability. Throughout this journey, he and his wife, who manage the farm together, have continuously learned to view the tea fields as a balanced ecosystem, incorporating natural elements such as ladybirds to control pests.

Character

Tasting Notes

An authentic Uji Matcha that impresses with its richness and breathtaking umami. It blends deep, savoury notes reminiscent of tomatoes with a refreshing sweetness akin to sugar snap peas or edamame. The Ujihikari cultivar was specifically developed to suit the unique growing conditions and flavour ideals of traditional Uji teas, making this matcha a true representation of the region's distinctive character. When whisked, Matcha Sōkyū forms a smooth, almost seamless foam that integrates beautifully with the water, creating a creamy texture that allows the flavour to linger on the palate long after each sip.

Texture

Extremely creamy and rich

Cup

Intense, bright green

Matcha Tea

Made of finely ground shade-grown leaves, Matcha is one of the finest Japanese teas. Unlike other green teas it is made from the whole leaf and is therefore packed with nutrients. Good Matcha has an intense, sweet taste and plenty of umami with barely any tartness even when prepared as thick, concentrated Koicha, as drunk in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Laboratory Tests

We go to great lengths to identify the finest organic tea farms across the world’s most celebrated terroirs. All our teas are sourced directly from the farmer and, with a few exceptions, are certified organic or come from pesticide-free farms. Each batch of tea for every harvest is tested for pesticides and other pollutants in an independent German lab to ensure they meet our strict quality standards as well as HACCP food safety requirements. Likewise, all the regions of Japan from which we source our teas are tested for radioactivity for every harvest.

Yoshi En

World's Finest Organic Teas

Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.

Cultivation & Processing

Special features in location, cultivation and processing

Uji is considered the birthplace of Japanese tea culture, offering fertile soil for tea cultivation in the former floodplain of the Ujigawa River. Since the early medieval period, Uji has been renowned as Japan’s premier tea-growing region, and to this day, it continues to produce some of the country’s finest Matcha, Gyokuro, Sencha, and Hojicha. However, organic cultivation remains a rarity due to intense market competition, requiring years of experience to achieve the highly sought-after deep and harmonious umami flavour. Recently, the increasing international demand for high-quality organic Uji tea has begun to signal a shift, led by pioneering farmers such as ours.

Unlike the common practice of blending different cultivars, this Matcha is crafted exclusively from the rare Ujihikari cultivar. Ujihikari is celebrated for its remarkably complex flavour profile, which lingers on the palate for minutes. Our farmer cultivates this tea using the traditional Shizen Jitate method, where tea plants grow as individual bushes rather than being machine-trimmed in plantation-style rows. This approach means that both pest control and harvesting are carried out entirely by hand – resulting in the supreme quality and depth of flavour that distinguish this Matcha. Due to the labour-intensive cultivation process and the naturally low yield of the Ujihikari cultivar, only a very limited quantity of this Matcha is produced each year.

Single Origin

This Matcha comes 100% from the above-mentioned tea field and tea farmer and is packaged for us directly on site.

Organic Certification

Preparation

Using a Chashaku, place two scoops (approx. half a teaspoon) in a Matcha bowl of your choice. Then pour approximately 80ml of hot water between 60°C and 80°C into the bowl, without pouring directly onto the powder to avoid clumping. For the next step, a Matcha whisk is undoubtedly the best choice for achieving the iconic Matcha foam.

The key to the perfect Matcha is in the motion. Circular movements and a typical whisking motion should be avoided, as little-to-no foam will form. Hold the Matcha whisk at an angle of around 90° in the bowl, allowing it to gently scape the base without pressing against it. Now move it straight up and down from the wrist while moving your arm to the left and right, creating a ‘’W‘’ or ‘’M‘’ movement. The faster you perform this movement, the easier it is to create a wonderfully fluffy foam. Practice makes perfect – enjoy!

Recommended Matcha Bowl

For the proper preparation and optimal flavour development, we recommend using an authentic Japanese Matcha bowl.

Recommended Accessories

For the ideal texture, flavour and preservation of Matcha's delicate qualities, we recommend using a fine mesh strainer and a high-quality bamboo Matcha whisk. For dispensing and dosing, the ideal utensil is an authentic Chashaku made of bamboo.

Storage and Packaging

Our Matcha is packaged in a protective bag and stored within a high-quality tin with a screw lid, which is coated on the inside with BPA-free plastic. Before opening, the Matcha can be stored in the original packaging in the fridge or at room temperature.

After opening, we recommend keeping the Matcha tightly closed and at room temperature to protect it from moisture, odour, light and oxidation. During the summer, opened Matcha can be stored in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness, although it should only be taken out briefly to prevent excessive moisture absorption or exposure to unwanted odours. For optimum quality, use the Matcha within a few weeks if possible. For longer-term storage, we recommend storing Matcha in an opaque, airtight container such as one of our Matcha tea caddies and store at room temperature.

Test results

We find it very important that our teas are pure and produced in a way that respects the environment. For this reason, each one of our teas is tested for pesticide residues by an independent laboratory, the results of which can be found here. Some of our teas are also tested for specific nutritional compounds, in which case the test results are also published here.

See tests

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