2025 Shogun Ieyasu’s Kuradashi

An outstanding matured hon gyokuro

Ranking among Japan's finest and most esteemed hon gyokuro selections, this tea spent 20 days in the shade beneath rice straw, then underwent maturation lasting more than six months, carefully refined within sealed jars. The location chosen is the former tea chamber of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, which infuses it with an essence deeply rooted in history.

This tea rises above the passage of time, restoring spring to its full richness and depth. Its multifaceted character and its exquisite umami flavour make it a truly distinctive tea. Best savoured when prepared in a kyusu or shiboridashi, where all its subtleties can fully emerge!

A rigorous manufacturing practice

Producing a kuradashi style tea requires exacting, meticulous artistry. Shaded for 3 to 4 weeks, the tea is collected during spring. Following swift withering, steaming, and rolling, it transforms into gyokuro.

The leaves are subsequently stored in hermetically sealed containers such as jars or wooden boxes, which maintains their freshness by guarding them against external air and moisture.

Maintaining strict humidity control is crucial to prevent leaf degradation. Consistent temperature management is similarly vital to ensure proper tea maturation.

Maturation, which entails allowing the tea to rest over extended periods, facilitates its development. During this process, the tea gains considerable complexity.

Beyond its basic production, our gyokuro underwent distinctive handling: it was sanctified at the Tokugawa shrine by a Shinto priest!

A tea adorned with crystalline formations

Small white particles visible upon the dried leaves represent a natural crystallisation of caffeine. Such crystallisation frequently occurs in exceptionally high calibre teas, particularly competition teas and notably gyokuro, especially when aged within airtight vessels.

Discernible without magnification, this occurrence reflects the substantial concentration of bioactive compounds present in these teas. Entirely benign, it does not compromise the flavour of this outstanding tea in any manner; indeed, it provides additional confirmation of its exceptional calibre.

A tea requiring careful storage

When vacuum sealed, the tea remains fresh for several months, and may last up to 2 years, if the following precautions are observed:

• Prevent exposure to elevated temperatures
• Keep it in a cool, dark location
• After opening, use it within a timely manner

Exploring further

For additional information, consult the gyokuro focused articles on the "Chercheur de Thé" blog by François-Xavier Delmas.