Gyokuro: Japan's Lesser-Known Shaded Tea

Most people know matcha, but few know its close cousin. Gyokuro, whose name means "jade dew," is one of Japan's most prized teas, and it starts the same way matcha does: in the shade.

About three weeks before harvest, the tea bushes are covered to block most of the sunlight. The plant responds by producing more theanine, the amino acid behind green tea's savory sweetness, and more chlorophyll, which gives the leaves their deep green color. The result is a tea with rich umami, a mellow sweetness, and a fresh, sea-like aroma, with very little bitterness.

Learn more about this style of tea and see our available options here.