Gyokuro (Pearl Dew) - Emperor’s Choice

After an invitation by the Emperor of Japan’s personal tea maker, we are delighted to offer this season’s Gyokuro, one of the world’s rarest and finest of teas.

Translated as pearl dew, Gyokuro, is an exquisite green tea, grown in a small garden near Uji, on the outskirts of Kyoto. The leaves are so delicate that they must be screened from the sun, increasing their sweet mellowness and removing any trace of bitterness. The Tea Maker then personally chooses and picks each leaf.

The leaves are steamed, cooled and to ensure complete withering, hand-rubbed (itazuri) on a table made entirely of paper. It takes at least ten years to learn these ancient and traditional skills, as Bruce Ginsberg, discovered when featured in this Kyoto News’ article.

The final tea is so exquisite that the Japanese treat it as a delicacy, sometimes eating rather than brewing it, and serving it with ponzu, a sour and citrus sauce. Indeed, in order to avoid damaging this tea, water of only 40 º C. should be used, bringing out the full flavour and distinctive greenish-gold liquor.

We are so pleased to offer the Emperor of Japan’s Gyokuro to our enthusiastic customers, but unfortunately as this tea is rarely available outside Japan, quantity is severely limited.

Caddy 25g