Sakamotoen is an organic green tea farm in Kagoshima, Japan known for its rich volcanic soils and pristine surroundings. They have been growing green tea for almost 100 years, and became certified organic 30 years ago.

Gyokuro is admired as the highest grade of Japanese green tea. Mister Sakamoto uses a unique two-step shading system: three weeks before harvest, one layer of shading is placed over the bushes. A week later, the second layer of shading is added which places the tea plants in nearly total darkness for the final two weeks before picking. At harvest, the leaves are immediately steamed, dried, and carefully rolled. Gyokuro is harvested only once a year in the early spring. The delicate flavour and slightly sweet aftertaste make Gyokuro the choice of green-tea connoisseurs. Because it is shade-grown, it has the highest concentration of the catechin EGCG, one of the most powerful antioxidants found in plants. Find out more health benefits of green tea here!

Importantly, shading causes both the amino acid theanine and the alkaloid caffeine in the tea leaves to increase, which yields a sweet flavour. The result being the unique natural sweetness of Gyokuro.