Just 1.7 kg were carefully handpicked and steamed for 10 minutes. After rolling for 6.5 hours, just 300 grams were produced.
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\nIngredients: Green tea
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\nCultivar: Kirari 31
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\nHarvest: April
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\nRegion: Sayama, Saitama
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Limited to one unit per person
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The Cultivar - Kirari 31
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The Kirari 31 is a cultivar that is receiving increasing attention in recent years. It was derived from a cross of Sakimidori (the mother or pollen parent) and Saemidori (the father or pollen parent. Saemidori itself a cross between Yabukita and Asatsuyu cultivars). The cultivar was first produced in 1994 with traits such as disease and cold resistance, good growth, and tea quality in mind, and indeed has shown very good resistance against frost so has been recommended to farmers cultivating at higher elevations. In general, the quality of tea made from the Kirari 31 is greater than that of Yabukita and compares with the umami level and color of Saemidori. Ready for harvest in general 3-4 days earlier than Yabukita, it has an excellent color (as you may be able to tell from the photo) with a mild flavor that is similar to Saemidori quality.
From 7-time Minister's Award Winning, 15th generation tea farmer Masahiro Okutomi (Okutomi Tea Garden, Sayama, Saitama), a single cultivar sencha green tea (Kirari 31) harvested on April 12, 2023, and rolled by hand for 6.5 hours.
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Just 1.7 kg were carefully handpicked and steamed for 10 minutes. After rolling for 6.5 hours, just 300 grams were produced.
\n
\n
\nIngredients: Green tea
\n
\nCultivar: Kirari 31
\n
\nHarvest: April
\n
\nRegion: Sayama, Saitama
\n
Limited to one unit per person
\n
\n
\n
The Cultivar - Kirari 31
\n
The Kirari 31 is a cultivar that is receiving increasing attention in recent years. It was derived from a cross of Sakimidori (the mother or pollen parent) and Saemidori (the father or pollen parent. Saemidori itself a cross between Yabukita and Asatsuyu cultivars). The cultivar was first produced in 1994 with traits such as disease and cold resistance, good growth, and tea quality in mind, and indeed has shown very good resistance against frost so has been recommended to farmers cultivating at higher elevations. In general, the quality of tea made from the Kirari 31 is greater than that of Yabukita and compares with the umami level and color of Saemidori. Ready for harvest in general 3-4 days earlier than Yabukita, it has an excellent color (as you may be able to tell from the photo) with a mild flavor that is similar to Saemidori quality.
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15th generation tea farmer, Masahiro Okutomi, is based in Sayama and one of the most respected tea farmers in Japan for both his skill in cultivation and processing, particularly as a master of tea hand rolling.
Awards
7-time Minister's Award Winner (Minister Awards are given to the very top ranking tea among gold prize winners at official Japanese tea competitions). Tea competition gold prize winner 38 years in a row at various levels. 農林水産大臣賞7回、国内茶品評会38年連続一等入賞他
2008 平成20年度 第30 回FGTC サヤマ2008 1等
2009 平成21年度 第63 回全国茶品評会 普通煎茶4k の部 1等
2009 平成21年度 第37 回関東ブロック茶の共進会 仕上げ茶の部 1等
2010 平成22年度 第38 回関東ブロック茶の共進会 荒茶の部 1等
2010 平成22年度 彩の国さいたま第56 回お茶まつり狭山茶品評会 1等 農林水産大臣賞
2011 平成23年度 第33回FGTC サヤマ2011 1等 農林水産大臣賞
2012 平成24年度 第40回関東ブロック茶の共進会 荒茶の部 1等
2012 平成24年度 第40回関東ブロック茶の共進会 仕上茶の部 1等
2012 平成24年度 英国GTA2012紅茶リーフティー部門 二つ星金賞
2013 平成25年度 第41回関東ブロック茶の共進会 荒茶の部 1等
2013 平成25年度 彩の国さいたま第59回お茶まつり狭山茶品評会 1等
2013 平成25年度 英国GTA2013紅茶リーフティー部門 二つ星金賞
2014 平成26年度 第42回関東ブロック茶の共進会 荒茶の部 1等
2014 平成26年度 英国GTA2014紅茶リーフティー部門 二つ星金賞
2015 平成27年度 第37回FGTC サヤマ2015 1等 農林水産大臣賞
2016 平成28年度 第38回FGTC サヤマ2016 1等
2017 平成29年度 第39回FGTC サヤマ2017 1等 農林水産大臣賞
2017 平成29年度 仏国C’ est Bon le Japon 日本茶コンクール煎茶の部 第2位
2018 平成30年度 仏国C’ est Bon le Japon 日本茶コンクール抹茶の部 第1位 金賞(有限会社明日香)
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