A rare and extremely limited Japanese black tea made from leaves of the Tsuyuhikari cultivar, grown in our Yokomi field. Tsuyuhikari (つゆひかり, "dew light") is a late-budding cultivar prized for its clean sweetness and elegant aroma — qualities that translate beautifully into black tea when paired with the right processing.
What makes this lot truly special is the unka bite. Unka (ウンカ, the tea green leafhopper) is the same insect responsible for Taiwan's legendary Oriental Beauty oolong: as the bugs feed on the young leaves, the plant releases defense compounds that naturally produce intense honey, ripe muscat grape, and tropical fruit aromatics in the finished tea. No pesticides, no intervention — just a happy accident of organic farming that elite tea producers around the world pay premiums for.
The cup pours a deep amber-red with a soft, honeyed aroma. The flavor is full-bodied but gentle, with natural sweetness, ripe stone-fruit notes, and none of the harsh tannins common in mass-produced black teas. Best enjoyed plain, without milk or sugar, to appreciate the full character of what the bugs and the terroir created together.
- Brewing guidelines: 2 piled tsp. to 200–300 ml water at 90°C / 194°F, steeped for 2–3 minutes.
- Cultivar: Tsuyuhikari
- Harvest: Summer, unka-bitten leaves
- Cultivation: Certified JAS Organic. Grown pesticide-free. Fertilized with organic compost.