What is Gyokuro green tea?
Gyokuro is a very special (and pricey) Japanese green tea. Gyokuro is also poetically called Jade Dew, which is a literal translation from Japanese. It accounts for less than a half percent of all Japanese teas produced. This treasured tea is grown under the shade of straw covers for about 3 weeks prior to harvesting. That allows to slow down the leaf’s growth. As a result, the tea leaves grow thinner and tender, accumulating more amino acids and flavor.
Goyokuro tea’s health benefits are well known in alternative and traditional medicine.
How does Gyokuro tea taste? 
Gyokuro produces pale green (hence the name) infusion, balanced and delicate, with very little astringency. This type of green tea is praised for its complex flavor with sweet grassy notes and mellow “steamed” taste characteristic to the finest of Japanese teas.
How do you drink Gyokuro tea?
It’s only natural that tea as special as Gyokuro would have its unique brewing requirements. To get the most out of this exquisite Japanese green tea, make the first infusion in room temperature water. Use just enough water to cover the tea leaves, and let them steep for 5-7 minutes*. After 5 minutes, the leaves will have absorbed most of the water, leaving only a spoonful of intense, aromatic brew with a pure umami flavor. Other infusions can be made the usual way, in hot (but not boiling) water. Allow 15 seconds for the second infusion, gradually increasing the duration for the third, fourth and fifth. You’ll get grassier flavors with every successive infusion. After the fifth infusion, you can continue to use the tea leaves in traditional Japanese rice recipes, or perhaps even a green tea soup!
*It is acceptable to use hot, but not boiling, water for the first infusion. In this case, don’t steep it for more than 30 seconds, or you’ll end up with a bitter tea.
Tea tips
If you love Gyokuro tea, also try other Japanese tea varieties: Sencha, Matcha, Hojicha, Genmaicha, and Kukicha.
Where to buy the best Gyokuro teas online?
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Gyokuro Green Tea An exquisite and complex Japanese green tea. Gyokuro, also known as Jade Dew Drop tea, is one of the finest, most expensive and highly sought after Japanese green tea that has been noted for its complex, refined flavor. |
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Gyokuro Gyokuro, a shade-grown steamed green tea, is among the finest of Japanese teas. While the young leaves of the spring season develop, the Gyokuro plants are shaded from the sun for several weeks. This slows the growth allowing tea leaves more time to develop depth and flavor. The sun-deprived leaves are higher in chlorophyll, which explains their vivid green color. They're also higher in amino acids, most notably L-theanine, which accounts for the perfectly smooth, rich and soft flavor. Our fine Gyokuro green tea produces a deeply sweet aroma of freshly buttered greens and seaweed, with no grassiness or harshness. Think of tender new grass just sprouting in the spring. Soft on the palate with a balanced, delicate finish. Energizing and soothing cup of tea. Use lower water temperature and enjoy multiple infusions to get the most from this tea. Product of Japan. |
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Uji Gyokuro Tea Bright, crisp, floral. A superior grade gyokuro green tea that is comprised of select green tea leaves that are shade grown for two weeks then promptly deep steamed after harvesting. Steeps a bright green vegetal cup with notes of umami and sweet corn. |
More tea, please!
Isabelle is a freelance writer, self-taught tea nerd, and tea blending enthusiast. She is a herbalist with a strong interest in Ayurveda. Each year Isabelle travels extensively, returning with tea samples from around the world. She is a big fan of handmade teaware and Japanese green teas.