Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori
Garden Direct Green Tea
4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
3
Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori
Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori
Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori
Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori

Onitsuka Shincha Saemidori

One of the first-harvested cultivars of early spring, this organic shincha has a deep flavor with a refined minerality shaped by fertile volcanic soils. Its vivid, opaque emerald-green liquor makes it a favorite among tea specialists and drinkers alike.


About 18 Cups Of Tea
$41.00

"Another excellent shincha sourced by Rishi. It's green full bodied umami excellence. This is on my favorite list for sure." - Greg W/

Vivid green infusion with a deep umami taste and mountain minerality.

Onitsuka-san is a fifth-generation organic tea farmer in Kagoshima. He produces mid-steamed ("chumushi") sencha with a rich, juicy character that reflects his meticulous soil management and masterful cultivation techniques.

Onitsuka-san grows several cultivars for Rishi Tea & Botanicals and brings exceptional care to every aspect of organic tea farming and production. Year after year, his organic sencha ranks among the finest selections in our lineup, consistently delivering a robust and deeply satisfying cup.

Saemidori, which translates to "clear green," is a hybrid cultivar developed from Asatsuyu and Yabukita. One of the earliest cultivars harvested each spring, it is prized by tea farmers throughout Kyushu for its vivid green infusion color and its resilience against early-season frost.

This lot of Saemidori, produced by Onitsuka-san, brews into a shimmering bright green cup with an opaque emerald hue. The fertile black volcanic soils of his farm shine through in the tea's character, contributing a distinctive minerality, depth, and density that make this Shincha Saemidori especially memorable.

Cultivar

Saemidori

Harvest

April 17, 2026

Elevation

80 meters

Kagoshima, Kyushu Island, Japan

Kyushu Island, Japan

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu (the third largest island of Japan) and is largely mountainous and home to important lumber, fishing and agriculture industries. Much like the rest of Japan, this region has well manicured tea gardens with well-developed irrigation, and farmers follow strict growing procedures to produce this perfect tea bush shape and size.

Green tea

  • Imperial
  • Metric
45 seconds
Traditional Tea Preparation

Add 6g to a small (150mL / 5oz) kyusu teapot.

Use water cooled to 170°F. 

Infuse for 45 seconds and decant.

Repeat for another 1-2 infusions for 15 seconds.

Kagoshima background map mobile

Origin

Kagoshima

Kyushu Island, Japan

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu (the third largest island of Japan) and is largely mountainous and home to important lumber, fishing and agriculture industries. Much like the rest of Japan, this region has well manicured tea gardens with well-developed irrigation, and farmers follow strict growing procedures to produce this perfect tea bush shape and size.

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Teaware

Everything You Need to
Brew the Perfect Cup

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
Based on 3 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 2 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
67%would recommend this product
3 reviews
  • Greg W.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    7 months ago
    Excellent Shincha

    Another excellent shincha sourced by Rishi. It's green full bodied umami excellence. This is on my favorite list for sure.

  • Suzanne O.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    5 months ago
    Fantastic tea

    Delicious with a jade green finish. A real treat.

  • Jeff
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    10 months ago
    3 Stars

    Great quality, not a flavor profile for me.

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