Sencha Yame
Ai Pest.Free

Contest Grade 98 P.

SKU
5558
An outstanding sencha with an understated vitality from the finest terroir in the green tea mecca of Yame. Grown pesticide-free by Irie Seicha, one of the most renowned farms and pioneers of sustainable tea cultivation in the region. Featuring an incredibly elegant and balanced Yame flavour, with a matcha-esque sweetness and lingering umami. 40g
Character Powerful, subtly revitalising, deep, elegant Yame umami 
Tea Garden Irie Seicha, the first JAS-certified farm in Fukuoka Prefecture, cultivating without pesticides for over 30 years
Terroir Kurogi, Yame, Fukuoka
Harvest 1st (Ichibancha), End of April 2022
Cultivar Saemidori, Yabukita
Elevation 450m
Steaming Deep (Fukamushi)
Cultivation Cultivated without the use of chemical pesticides
Laboratory Tests Radioactivity (annual test of region) and pesticides
Awards World Green Tea Contest Silver medal
Grade 98/100 p. (Sencha category); Contest Grade
€21.90
40g

Delivery : 1–3 business days

Incl. VAT, excl. shipping

SKU
5558
€547.50 / 1kg
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Tea Farm

The tea gardens of Irie Seicha farm are idyllically nestled atop Mount Kugiyama, 450m above sea level, naturally protected by the surrounding landscape. Not long after the turn of the millennium, the farm was awarded JAS organic certification, making it one of the first officially certified organic farms in all of Japan. This visionary step was taken by Mr Irie Senior at just 18 years old. After a lengthy stay in the hospital, he wanted to actively promote health through the cultivation of pure, natural tea. He quickly decided to clear the family's orange groves and painstakingly planted the first tea fields – which, to this day, have never once been exposed to pesticides.

Now in its second generation under the care of his son, the farm produces Yamecha green teas of the highest quality. Its speciality lies in sophisticated cultivar blends that capture the bold, distinctive character of the mountains – a pure reflection of Yame’s unique terroir. The deep understanding of optimal cultivation techniques was hard-won by the father and son through years of trial and error, tireless work, and countless soil analyses to monitor nutrient levels. It is the region’s fertile soil in particular that forms the foundation for healthy, resilient tea plants, naturally equipped to withstand the harsh mountain climate.

Sencha Yame Ai Pest.Free

Character

Tasting Notes

An exceptional, subtly energising sencha with a full umami flavour and a complete elegance that can only be achieved after decades of experience in green tea production. The aftertaste lingers with a matcha-like umami sweetness, a rare and unexpected quality. 

Leaf

Deep mustard yellow

 
Sencha Yame Ai Pest.Free

Awards

The tea farmer won the silver medal in the 'World Green Tea Contest' in 2007.

Sencha Yame Ai Pest.Free

SENCHA

Sencha is by far the most widely grown and drunk green tea in Japan and in a way forms the backbone of the Japanese tea tradition. The leaves are traditionally steamed for 10 - 60 seconds after harvesting, dried with hot air, shaken and then rolled into small flat needles in several passes. The flavour profile of Sencha is very versatile, ranging from sweet, fresh, grassy notes on the one hand to strong tart noble bitter notes on the other, with the region of cultivation and quality playing a major role.

Yoshien Labortests

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, the regions of Japan from which we source our teas are tested for radioactivity for every harvest.
Yoshien

Yoshi En

Premium 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

Yamecha (八女茶)

The Tsukushi Plain, especially the basins of its two major rivers, the Yabe and the Chikugo, is often blanketed in thick morning fog. This natural veil softens the sunlight, encouraging tea plants to develop a high concentration of umami-rich amino acids. Because of this, teas from the Yame area are often called “natural gyokuros”, known for their remarkably intense and complex flavour. The rivers not only provide fresh mountain spring water, but also help cool the region with moist air, enriching the local terroir. Combined with a harsh climate of hot days and chilly nights, sometimes even dusting tea bushes with snow in winter, these elements create the signature fog that defines the region. Yame also receives abundant rainfall (up to 2400 mm annually) which, together with its loose, nutrient-rich soils, ensures a constant supply of water to the tea fields. Most of these fields are nestled on mountain slopes, where the unique climate and fertile land help produce resilient tea plants with the deep, rich flavour that Yamecha is known for.

The historical origins of Yamecha date back to 1423, when Zen Master Shuzui returned from China, bringing with him tea cultivation and processing techniques in the Ming style, which involved pan-roasting. It wasn’t until the Edo period, around the mid-19th century, that the Uji method (using steaming and shading) began to take hold. This marked the beginning of sencha production in Yame, though it remained limited and was considered a luxury. Over time, tea production in the region slowly modernised, leading to the emergence of a more defined tea industry across Fukuoka. In 1925, teas from this area were officially unified under the name "Yamecha", highlighting the distinctive quality of both roasted and steamed green teas from the region. 

Today, Yame stands alongside Uji as one of Japan’s premier tea-producing regions, regularly earning top honours in the country’s most prestigious tea competitions. From 2001 to 2012, Yamecha consistently won the coveted MAFF Award for gyokuro from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. It also received the same award from 2014 to 2019 in the sencha category. Particularly sought-after and frequently awarded teas come from the towns of Kurogi-Cho, Kamiyou-Cho, and most notably, Hoshino Mura, the famous mountain village whose name is familiar to every gyokuro enthusiast.

Single Origin

This tea comes exclusively from the above-mentioned tea farm in Yame, sourced directly from the tea farmer.

100% pure

Preparation

Brewing Guide

2 tsp. per 100-300ml (50-60°C) water. Steep for 2 min. Suitable for several infusions.

Packaging

Packed in a particularly high-quality, airtight aroma protection bag with zipper and stand-up bottom. The tea is protected from oxidation and the effects of pollutants in the best possible way by a 9-fold coating with extremely high barrier security.

Recommended Teapot

A violet Banko Kyusu with a fine ceramic sieve is ideal for the Cultivar Saemidori (brings out the fine amino acids more beautifully), alternatively a black Tokoname Kyusu (all-rounder for all types of green tea).

Recommended Storage

A high-quality tea caddy made of cherry bark (solid wood, Kabazaiku Chazutsu) is ideal, alternatively a cheaper, internally coated, airtight tea caddy.

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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