A Clear Morning — Gyokuro Production Underway

Another brilliant blue sky today, and we've been at work since the early hours, crafting our gyokuro.

Take a look at the photo — freshly picked tea leaves glistening in the morning sun. Deep, vivid green. Firm, resilient texture. Each and every leaf carries the concentrated umami that makes gyokuro truly special.

The defining feature of gyokuro lies in its "shaded cultivation" method. For approximately 20 days before harvest, the entire tea garden is covered with shading sheets to block direct sunlight. This process suppresses the breakdown of theanine — the amino acid responsible for sweetness and umami — resulting in a depth of flavor and a mellow richness that sets gyokuro apart from all other green teas.

Freshly harvested leaves are all about freshness. Immediately after picking, they move swiftly into steaming and drying, each step carried out with the utmost care. It is this unhurried, meticulous process that translates into the rich, layered flavor found in every single cup.

Under today's clear skies, we have a feeling it's going to be a very good batch.