This stunning black tea was crafted by Tsuguto Hattori from Yabukita plants that he grows and hand harvests himself on reclaimed tea plantations in Higashiyoshino. The tea leaves are rolled before undergoing full oxidation. While wakoucha, or domestic Japanese black tea, is a growing category, this may be the shining example of its potential. Possessed by a fragrance that borders on perfume without tipping into being overpowering, the profile of this tea skews towards the fruited complexities found in expertly crafted black tea, and is anchored with a crisp chenin-like texture.
We originally featured the 2024 harvest of this tea in our Kiwami Collection, and jumped at the opportunity to buy the entire yield from the 2025 harvest. An oxidized tea of the highest order that we are honored to showcase.