Yabukita
Meet the tea cultivar that began as a quiet experiment and became Japan’s most widely grown tea cultivar.
The Story of Yabukita
Yabukita is the most widely produced tea cultivar in Japan, accounting for about 70% of all tea trees nationwide. Yabukita is easy to cultivate thanks to its strong cold tolerance, vigorous rooting, and excellent adaptability to various soil types. Because of these qualities, it quickly spread across Japan and became the dominant variety after being officially registered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1953.
Originating in Shizuoka, this cultivar was developed by a tea researcher, Mr. Hikosaburo Sugiyama (1857–1941), who devoted his life to improving tea varieties. In his experiments, he cleared a bamboo grove and planted tea trees on both its north and south sides. The trees on the north side produced outstanding tea, leading him to name the new variety “Yabukita,” meaning “north (kita) of the bamboo grove (yabu).” Today, Yabukita remains the most widely cultivated tea variety in Japan.
The photo below is the “mother tree” of Yabukita in Shizuoka, designated as a Natural Monument of the prefecture. This historic tree continues to flourish with vitality to this day.
The Story of Yabukita
Yabukita is the most widely produced tea cultivar in Japan, accounting for about 70% of all tea trees nationwide. Yabukita is easy to cultivate thanks to its strong cold tolerance, vigorous rooting, and excellent adaptability to various soil types. Because of these qualities, it quickly spread across Japan and became the dominant variety after being officially registered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1953.
Originating in Shizuoka, this cultivar was developed by a tea researcher, Mr. Hikosaburo Sugiyama (1857–1941), who devoted his life to improving tea varieties. In his experiments, he cleared a bamboo grove and planted tea trees on both its north and south sides. The trees on the north side produced outstanding tea, leading him to name the new variety “Yabukita,” meaning “north (kita) of the bamboo grove (yabu).” Today, Yabukita remains the most widely cultivated tea variety in Japan.
The photo below is the “mother tree” of Yabukita in Shizuoka, designated as a Natural Monument of the prefecture. This historic tree continues to flourish with vitality to this day.
What is a Cultivar?
The word cultivar comes from “cultivated variety” and refers to a plant bred and selected by humans for specific qualities such as flavor, aroma, or growth characteristics.
What is a Cultivar?
The word cultivar comes from “cultivated variety” and refers to a plant bred and selected by humans for specific qualities such as flavor, aroma, or growth characteristics.
Yabukita Profile
Yabukita is generally known for its well-balanced flavor and remarkable versatility. It is used not only for matcha, but also for sencha, fukamushi-cha, gyokuro, and other types of Japanese tea.
Starting point for anyone curious about the depth a single cultivar can hold. Its freshness and balance embody the heart of Japanese tea culture.
Since we’re diving into the tasting profile, it’s also worth mentioning that the same cultivar can express different flavors depending on the region where it’s grown.
There’s a fascinating world behind these regional differences, but we’ll save that story for another time.
Yabukita Profile
Yabukita is generally known for its well-balanced flavor and remarkable versatility. It is used not only for matcha, but also for sencha, fukamushi-cha, gyokuro, and other types of Japanese tea.
Starting point for anyone curious about the depth a single cultivar can hold. Its freshness and balance embody the heart of Japanese tea culture.
Since we’re diving into the tasting profile, it’s also worth mentioning that the same cultivar can express different flavors depending on the region where it’s grown.
There’s a fascinating world behind these regional differences, but we’ll save that story for another time.
Not the final touch.
The only touch
