Nagasaki First-Pick Saemidori Tamaryokucha - From Nagasaki Award Winner Producer

This Saemidori Tamaryokucha comes from the same Nagasaki producer behind our award-winning Tsuyuhikari Tamaryokucha—one of the most loved Japanese greens we’ve brought in.

But this tea has a very different personality.

Where Tsuyuhikari is bright and aromatic, this Saemidori leans smooth, deep green, and remarkably easy to drink.

The first thing you’ll notice is the color: a beautiful, deeper green liquor that already hints at the sweetness inside. The taste is clean and soft, with a gentle sweetness, fresh green vegetable notes, and a smooth umami finish that never feels too heavy.

There’s very little bitterness. Very little sharpness.

Just a clean, mellow cup with enough depth to stay interesting, but enough softness to make you want to keep drinking.

This is the kind of Japanese green tea that feels comforting right away.

Saemidori (さえみどり) is one of Japan’s most highly regarded tea cultivars, especially for people who love sweeter, smoother green teas. Its name is often understood as “clear green” or “vivid green,” which fits the tea beautifully—Saemidori is famous for producing a bright, attractive green color in the cup.

It is a cross between Yabukita and Asatsuyu, combining Yabukita’s balance with Asatsuyu’s natural sweetness and umami.

That combination is what makes Saemidori so special.

It gives you the sweetness and lush green character people love in premium Japanese tea, but with a cleaner, smoother finish that makes it very approachable. Even if you usually find Japanese green tea too grassy, too bitter, or too intense, Saemidori is often one of the easiest cultivars to enjoy.

This Tamaryokucha style also gives the tea a slightly rounder feeling compared to a classic straight-leaf sencha. The cup feels soft, smooth, and polished, with a gentle green depth that opens up more with each infusion.

Grown in Nagasaki, this tea benefits from one of Japan’s most underrated tea-growing environments:

Cool nights and warm days
Frequent spring morning fog
Clean mountain water from the Tara mountain range

These conditions help bring out the tea’s natural sweetness, clarity, and smooth green finish.

Brewing Instructions
Use 5g of tea in a 250ml kyusu with 165°F water.

Steep for 50-60 seconds for the first infusion. And 20–25 seconds for the following infusions.
The first brew carries the best flavor, so do not rinse this tea.

You can expect 3–4 infusions, each one becoming a little lighter, softer, and more refreshing.

If you’re looking for a Japanese green tea that is deeper green, cleaner, smoother, and easier to drink, this Saemidori Tamaryokucha is a beautiful choice.

It has enough sweetness and umami for serious tea drinkers, but it’s gentle enough to recommend to almost anyone.