Okumidori

おくみどり · okumidori

GyokuroMatchaKabusechaSencha

Registered

1974

National Share

3%

Okumidori is a late-budding cultivar bred from Yabukita and Shizuoka Zairai No. 16, registered in 1974. Its later harvest timing helps tea farms distribute their picking workload more evenly across the season — a practical advantage that complements its outstanding quality. When shade-grown, Okumidori develops a mellow, enveloping umami with remarkably low astringency and bitterness, making it one of the most sought-after cultivars for gyokuro and competition-grade matcha. It is particularly prominent in the Uji region of Kyoto, where it has become a staple of tencha production. The vivid green color it yields when ground into matcha, combined with its silky texture and long, sweet finish, has earned Okumidori a reputation as one of the finest cultivars for shaded tea production in Japan.

Flavor Profile

Aggregated reference values from publicly available information.

Texture

silky

Finish

long

Clarity

bright

Aroma Timeline

Top
Nori seaweedBamboo leaf
Middle
Kelp brothEdamame
Base
VanillaMilky

Recommended Brewing

Temperature

50°C

Water

60ml

Leaf

5g

Teaware

Houhin (handleless brewing vessel)

Steep Time

1steep120sec
2steep30sec
3steep45sec

The key to gyokuro is patience — use cooled water and a long first steep to draw out maximum umami. The houhin, a handleless vessel, is ideal because the water is cool enough to hold comfortably. After the leaves have opened, subsequent steeps can use slightly warmer water with shorter times.

Brewing Timer

2:00

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