Cultivar and technical information
Yamakai is a slightly early cultivar, selected from Yabukita seeds. It is part of the famous Shizu-7000 series of cultivars, and had the number Shizu-7166 before it was registered under the name Yamakai in 1967. Its distinct aromas were unpopular in the past, but are now viewed as its strengths. This cultivar is very commonly used to make shaded teas, but it’s when the tea is unshaded that it develops its rich aromas.
And this tea is indeed unshaded. It comes from Shimada, more precisely from the highly renown Hatsukura region located on the easternmost edge of the Makinohara plateau. This particular tea is also a fukamushi.

The nose
This Yamakai sencha delivers a slightly herbaceous vegetal fragrance with rich fruity nuances that evoke fresh green melons.

The mouth
This fukamushi-cha has a moderate umami, a light touch of astringency, and—especially—an overall very sweet impression. In the mouth, we find again the fresh melon aromas with vegetal, cut grass notes. The infusion delivers a thick, almost oily sensation.
In the mouth, the sweet persistence and umami is phenomenal.
Subsequent infusions are more astringent while remaining very aromatic. The tea always has a lot of body, where many more common fukamushi would lose theirs very quickly.

Summary
We have here an absolutely incredible, unshaded fukamushi. It is intense, balanced and fragrant—where the characteristics of the Yamakai cultivar are clearly perceptible.

Technical description
Type of tea : Fukamushi sencha
Origin : Hatsukura district, Shimada city, Shizuoka prefecture
Cultivar : Yamakai
Harvest : April 16th, 2026