Mandokoro tea hails from a historic high elevation production region in the mountains of Suzuka in Mie prefecture. Considered the progenitor of Japanese tea—Monodokoro-cha traces its origins back to the Muromachi period, when it was first cultivated by Zen Master Ekkei of Eigen-ji Temple. This is a snapshot of a style of tea embraced less for its intense umami and more for its soft sweetness, notable structure, and intense aroma.