One of the first (if not THE first) harvest of the season!

Shoju is a rare cultivar grown by Tanegashima Island tea farmer Iba Takahiro, shaded for about 10 days, and harvested in the third week of March making it one of the earliest teas harvested in Japan. As such, Iba-san is interviewed by TV crews every year!

We were able to get the very last of his 2022 harvest last year, and aging it, we are now offering it with 2023 harvest allowing you to compare and contrast!

Product Info 

• Ingredients: Green tea 
• Cultivar: Shoju 松寿
• Harvest: Mid to Late March
• Shading: Approximately 10 days 
• Region: Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima 
• Steaming: Regular 

About Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture  

Tanegashima Island is a small Japanese island located in the southwestern region of the country, known for its rich history and natural beauty. The island is renowned for being the site of Japan's first contact with firearms and Western culture, as well as being a launch site for rockets and space exploration. With its stunning beaches, lush forests, and diverse wildlife, Tanegashima Island has become a popular destination for tourists seeking a unique and unforgettable experience in Japan.

Because if it’s southern latitude, tea fields on the island are some of the earliest to be harvested in Japan, with the first harvest occurring at the end of March.