Morita Tea Garden #01: 2023 Premium Sayama Sencha, Suiren 睡蓮 Morita Tea Garden

Carefully finished (post-processed) selecting the highest grades of leaves, the Morita family created this premium sencha with the love and dedication of 10th generation tea farmers. 

The most premium sencha created by the Morita family, Suiren is shaded for 2 weeks so can also be called a kabusecha, though the northern latitude of the farm creates a stronger body than teas from more southern regions. 

The name: Suiren 睡蓮

Morita-san’s premium sencha takes the name Suiren, the Japanese name for the water lily. Translated literally to “sleeping lotus”, Suiren flowers are related to the lotus flower, and is the flower that Claude Monet studied in his famous Water Lilies painting. The lotus is a symbol of enlightenment in Japanese and Chinese aesthetics because the plant rises from the darkness of the pond and blooms into the light.

• Ingredients: Green tea
• Harvest: May
• Cultivar: Blend (Yabukita, Fukumidori, Sayama Kaori, Sae Akari, and others)
• Steaming: Fukamushi, deep steaming
• Producer: Morita family
• Location: 1221 Nakatomi, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Flavor notes

• Aroma ☆☆☆☆☆
• Astringency ☆☆
• Sweetness ☆☆☆☆☆

Steeping recommendation

• Yunomi – Tea: 5 grams. Time: 60 seconds. Water: 70C/160F, 200 ml.
• Morita Tea Garden – Tea: 6-8 grams. Time: 60 – 80 seconds. Water: 70-80C/ 160 – 175F

About the Morita Family

The Morita family are 10th generation tea farmers, and the eldest son (pictured above) has just decided to become the 11th generation.

Located in the Sayama region of Saitama Prefecture, the Morita family was affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant failure in March, 2011. While their tea is tested to be radiation free (test results available), Sayama-cha is being avoided by vendors. We hope to help out the Morita family by connecting them with tea lovers around the world.

On behalf of the Morita family, we greatly appreciate your understanding and trust that the tea provided here is tested and found to be completely safe.