Morita Tea Garden #02: 2023 Sayama Sencha, Kakurei 鶴齢 Morita Tea Garden

The Morita family’s quality sencha is a result of 10 generations of tea farming. Like their Premium Sencha, Suiren (but with smaller leaves), this Sayama region green tea is can be steeped to be very astringent with a touch of umami (savoriness) using hot water, or with a great balance between astringency (shibumi) and umami savoriness using warm water.

While not quite what we would call a kabusecha, the leaves for Kakurei are shaded for about 10 days before harvest for extra umami flavor notes, and low astringency.

THE NAME: KAKUREI 鶴齡

“The delicate crane”, kakurei, is the mythical crane, a divine animal with the longevity of a thousand years, and a symbol of good fortune. More commonly known by the first character, tsuru 鶴, the crane evokes the magical, majestic power of nature.

• 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 grams. Time: 40 – 60 seconds. Water: 70-90C/ 158 – 194F

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.