ShiZen Tea
Spring Pick - Organic Sencha Superior Green Tea 3.5 oz (100g)
Spring Pick - Organic Sencha Superior Green Tea 3.5 oz (100g)
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A mellow, rounded organic spring sencha from Kawane.
The essentials before the full story: spring-pick character, taste, origin, certification, first cup, and how this tea compares with Organic Sencha.
What the cup is like
Soft aroma, rounded sweetness, smooth body, very low bitterness, and a mellow finish.
First cup
Start around 75 C / 167 F for the softest sweetness. A little hotter gives a fuller cup with more aroma.
A Mellow Organic Sencha from Kawane, Shizuoka
This JAS-certified organic sencha comes from Taruwakien, a family tea farm in Kawane — a mountain tea district in Shizuoka — that has grown tea organically for more than 40 years. It is the same farm, and the same Yabukita cultivar, as our everyday Organic Sencha; what sets this one apart is the pick. This is the spring first-flush harvest, and that is what gives it a rounder, mellower, smoother cup.
Kawane sits along the upper Oi River, where cool mountain air and clear water shape gentle, well-balanced teas. In spring the leaves grow slowly through cool weather and settle into a soft sweetness and a quiet, rounded umami. The result is not a sharp or grassy sencha — it is a mellow one, smooth and easy from the first sip.
A word to keep this honest: this is not a heavy, umami-forward tea. Spring leaves carry a little more umami than summer leaves, but Organic Sencha Superior is still an everyday sencha at heart. Its real appeal is how mellow and rounded it drinks — a gentle cup for when you want something soft rather than bright.
Who This Tea Is For
- For people who find bright, grassy sencha a little too sharp and want a softer, rounder cup
- For daily organic green tea drinkers who prefer a mellow, smooth character
- For drinkers of our everyday Organic Sencha who want to taste the spring-pick version from the same farm
- For a relaxed afternoon cup rather than a brisk morning one
- For comparing the mellow spring-pick cup with a brighter everyday sencha
What Makes This Tea Different
- Spring first-flush pick: The leaves are picked in spring, after slow growth through cool weather. That gives a rounder sweetness, a softer umami, and very low astringency — the mellow character that defines this tea. Our everyday Organic Sencha, by contrast, is the summer-leaf pick: brighter and more refreshing.
- Taruwakien — four decades of organic farming: This tea is grown by Taruwakien, a family farm in Kawane that has farmed organically for more than 40 years. Organic tea farming is demanding and still uncommon, and that long, unbroken commitment is the foundation under both this tea and our everyday Organic Sencha — the same farm and the same classic Yabukita cultivar. What you taste between the two is purely the season of the pick.
- JAS Organic certification: Certified under Japan's JAS Organic standard — a good choice for customers specifically seeking certified organic Japanese green tea.
Brewing Notes After the First Cup
Start with the first-cup measurements above. From there, adjust by taste: slightly cooler water for a softer cup, or a little hotter water when you want more aroma.
Second Infusion
- Water: 80 C / 176 F
- Time: About 15 seconds
Cold Brew
- Tea: 5g
- Water: 500ml / 17 fl oz
- Time: 3 to 6 hours in the refrigerator
Cold brewing draws out a clean, mellow sweetness with almost no bitterness, which suits this tea's rounded, soft character especially well.
Organic Certification
This tea is certified organic under Japan's JAS Organic standard and is sold as organic in the U.S. under the U.S.-Japan organic equivalence arrangement. If you are choosing certified organic teas from Japan, this Kawane spring sencha sits naturally alongside our other organic teas.
Teas to Try Alongside This One
Organic Sencha Superior is the mellow, spring-pick member of our everyday sencha family. These companions help you compare nearby cups, each showing a different side of Japanese green tea.
- Organic Sencha: the everyday summer-leaf cup from the same Kawane farm — brighter and more refreshing. The clearest side-by-side comparison: refreshing vs mellow.
- Saemidori: a premium Kagoshima sencha with soft sweetness and deeper umami when you want a richer sencha comparison.
- Organic Matcha: another JAS-organic tea, in whisked powder form, when you want a different organic green tea style.
Choosing a Few Teas
This tea ships directly from Japan. If you choose one or two companions, Organic Sencha gives the clearest side-by-side comparison, while Saemidori or Organic Matcha shows a different style.
Comparison FAQ
Is this tea organic?
Yes. Organic Sencha Superior is certified under Japan's JAS Organic standard.
How is this different from Organic Sencha?
Both teas come from Taruwakien in Kawane, Shizuoka, use the Yabukita cultivar, and are certified under Japan's JAS Organic standard. Organic Sencha Superior is the spring first-flush pick: mellow, rounded, smooth, and low in astringency. Organic Sencha is the summer-leaf pick: cleaner, brighter, and more refreshing for everyday cups.
Is this a strong umami tea like gyokuro?
No. Spring leaves carry a little more umami than summer leaves, so Organic Sencha Superior has a touch more body and roundness than our everyday Organic Sencha — but it is still an everyday sencha, and its character is mellow and smooth, not a heavy, gyokuro-like umami tea. For a deep, umami-rich cup, see our Kyoto Hon-Gyokuro or Saemidori.
What does "Spring Pick" mean?
It means the leaves were harvested in the spring first flush — the first new growth of the year. Spring leaves grow slowly through cool weather and settle into a rounder sweetness and a softer umami, which is what gives this tea its mellow character.
Can I cold brew this tea?
Yes. Use 5g of tea with 500ml of cold water and steep in the refrigerator for 3 to 6 hours. The cup will be clean, mellow, and gently sweet, which suits this tea's rounded character well.
FAQ
Q. How soon will my order be shipped?
A. We typically ship orders within 1-3 business days. In the rare event that an item is out of stock, it may take longer. If that happens, we will contact you directly to discuss the options.
Q. What is your return policy?
A. If there is a quality issue, damage, defect, or wrong item, please contact us within 30 days so we can arrange a refund or replacement. Unopened tea in its original factory-sealed package and unused tea ware can be returned within 14 days. Opened tea cannot be returned for food-safety reasons. Orders can be cancelled before shipment. Please see our Refund Policy for the full terms.
Q. Is this tea organic?
A. Yes. This tea is certified organic under Japan's JAS Organic standard and is sold as organic in the U.S. under the U.S.-Japan organic equivalence arrangement.
Q. Will I have to pay customs and import taxes?
A. For U.S. orders, import duties and related charges are currently handled by ShiZen Tea when applicable, so you should not normally be asked to pay customs charges on delivery. For other countries, customs duties, import taxes, or local fees may vary depending on your country's regulations and may be charged to the buyer. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure.
Q. Can I track my order?
A. Yes, tracking is available for all orders. Once your order has been shipped, you will receive a confirmation email containing your tracking number and a link to track your package.
Q. How much caffeine does this tea contain?
A. Yes. Like other Japanese green teas, this tea contains caffeine. The exact amount can vary depending on the tea amount, water temperature, and steeping time. If you are sensitive to caffeine, we recommend enjoying it earlier in the day.
Q. How should I store the tea?
A. Please store the tea in a cool, dark place, away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. After opening, seal the package tightly and enjoy it as soon as possible, while the aroma is still fresh.
Q. What payment methods do you accept?
A. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) as well as PayPal.