Harvest: Mid-season
Sayamakaori
Cold-hardy enough to grow where most cultivars struggle. Strong in both aroma and body.
Where it came from
Selected from open-pollinated Yabukita seedlings and certified as Tea Norin No. 31 in 1971. Bred in Saitama.
Character
Its cold tolerance is the headline, and it has carried tea growing near its northern limit. Astringency runs a little high and the aroma lifts; paired with a heavy final firing it becomes the thick, strong cup that defines Sayama tea.
What it suits
Sencha, for people who want grip and aroma.