{"title":"Gyokuro","description":"\u003cp\u003eTraditional shade-grown and \"covered\" Japanese green tea, famous for its dense, structured mouthfeel and high concentration of the beneficial amino acid, L-theanine.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dento-hon-gyokuro-mare","title":"Yame Gyokuro \"Sen\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eYame is a special place. It is defined by dramatic mountains and cascading waterfalls. It is also known to produce the best Gyokuro in Japan, making it home to the traditional craftsmanship for this kind of tea. Over 100 years of experience making Gyokuro lives in Yame and thus, the tea that comes from here has set the standard for Gyokuro around the world for a very long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. The narrow river valleys of the Yame region create the ideal conditions for these tea trees, and they are able to flourish naturally, without much human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry, the tea leaves smell warm, like fresh popcorn. They brew quite an opaque liquor, leaving pale green, lettuce-looking leaves in the gaiwan after the first infusion. A slight bitterness gives the first and second infusions a sencha like profile, offset by this tea's unique, slick mouthfeel. This is a grassy and vibrant gyokuro with a hint of astringency that lifts it upwards. It gets sweeter, and even a bit tropical, through infusions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":47359803851032,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A6559_8d8478df-d016-4ba3-b4d1-bc2abd4999bf.jpg?v=1765917434"},{"product_id":"gyokuro-mizu-no-tsuyu","title":"Gyokuro \"Mizu no Tsuyu\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eShizuoka is so famous for its vast mountains and sencha, it took us a couple visits before we could look past these things and dive more deeply into its other treasures. We shouldn't have been surprised that fantastic gyokuro is produced here, but this tea has wowed us nonetheless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro production depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. This makes the expansive mountain range and fertile valleys of Shizuoka an excellent place to grow gyokuro.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnique to the making of gyokuro is that, at a certain point, the entire field is covered with screens designed to filter out even more light. This stresses the tea trees, causing them to strive for sunlight, increasing the amount of the amino acid l-theanine in their leaves. This constant striving for sun is what gives gyokuro its distinct mouthfeel, nutritional properties, and rich flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis gyokuro is harvested by hand, one bud and two leaves. The leaves are then immediately steamed, then separated, rolled, and lastly, formed into a needle shape by experienced craftsmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs if nodding to the matcha from Shizuoka, this gyokuro both smells and tastes like matcha! We find it to be much more gentle and perfumed than gyokuro from Yame, with a powdery quality that evokes matcha even further in comparison to the denser and heavier gyokuro we carry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brews a soft, luminous green liquor that rests lightly on the tongue, suspended in mid-palate. It looks like liquid bioluminescence, (something worth imagining as you ingest it). By the third infusion it starts to taste sweet, a bit more like matcha from Uji, while retaining its green glow and uplifting qualities. This is a light and refreshing gyokuro that speaks of the oxygenated peaks and valleys where it is from.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":50899349504280,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":51003215446296,"sku":null,"price":108.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251117_Cultivate_1017_WEB.jpg?v=1763921403"},{"product_id":"uji-gyokuro-takumishin","title":"Uji Gyokuro \"Takumishin\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the heart of Uji, Kyoto -- arguably the most famous traditional producing region of both matcha and gyokuro -- we have received a very special gyokuro from Joyo City and Kyotanabe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves are harvested from Ujihikari, Saemidori, and Okumidori tea trees that are covered and shade grown for around 23 days. The 3 varietals are then carefully blended to balance each of their distinct characteristics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing that makes traditional gyokuro from Uji so special is that most of it is aged for a minimum of 6 months. This one, for instance, was finished in 2024 and then intentionally aged for a year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark, hand-cut, metallic leaves are stunning in the gaiwan. Dry, the iridescent spindles smell like grape candies and pine. The first infusion is beautiful: gentle, with a surprisingly tropical profile. We get notes of banana and sweet potato, followed by a long, evolving finish. The liquor from the second infusion looks oily and dense, hinting at the soft and weighty mouthfeel it has maintained. By the third infusion a floral, powdery, matcha-like liftedness has come forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a saying in Japan, that \"sencha soothes the throat; while gyokuro soothes the soul,\" that this tea reminds us of. It addresses deeper parts of us, soothing by way of inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"6g Taster Pack","offer_id":51352515182872,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"25g Bag","offer_id":51352515215640,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"50g Bag","offer_id":51352529830168,"sku":null,"price":78.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A6807.jpg?v=1765845834"},{"product_id":"shizuoka-gyokuro-urarake","title":"Shizuoka Gyokuro \"Uraraka\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eShizuoka is so famous for its vast mountains and sencha, it took us a couple visits before we could look past these things and dive more deeply into its other treasures. We shouldn't have been surprised that fantastic gyokuro is produced here, but this tea has wowed us nonetheless.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro production depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. This makes the expansive mountain range and fertile valleys of Shizuoka an excellent place to grow gyokuro.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnique to the making of gyokuro is that, at a certain point, the entire field is covered with screens designed to filter out even more light. This stresses the tea trees, causing them to strive for sunlight, increasing the amount of the amino acid l-theanine in their leaves. This constant striving for sun is what gives gyokuro its distinct mouthfeel, nutritional properties, and rich flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from a rare varietal, Uraraka is only produced in very small quantities. This is a benchmark gyokuro for people looking for balanced, intense greenery. Dry, it smells very inviting, like concrete and cacao. Its taste lands pleasantly between a sencha and a gyokuro, with a forward astringency and grassy quality softened by a weighty, shade-grown mouthfeel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":51355743256856,"sku":null,"price":48.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251202_Cultivate_12431_WEB.jpg?v=1765916940"},{"product_id":"dento-hon-gyokuro-jun","title":"Yame Gyokuro \"Jun\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eYame is a special place. It is defined by dramatic mountains and cascading waterfalls. It is also known to produce the best Gyokuro in Japan, making it home to the traditional craftsmanship for this kind of tea. Over 100 years of experience making Gyokuro lives in Yame and thus, the tea that comes from here has set the standard for Gyokuro around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. The narrow river valleys of the Yame region create the ideal conditions for these tea trees, and they are able to flourish naturally, without much human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnique to the making of gyokuro is that, at a certain point in the growth of the tea plants, the entire field is covered with screens designed to filter out even more light. Roughly 2 to 3 weeks before harvest, large straw screens that are woven locally are stretched between a lattice of concrete pillars and suspended above the tea fields. To our knowledge, Yame is the only region that still uses this traditional shading method. The standard practice elsewhere is to use synthetic fiber to shade the trees, which works similarly, but has the undesired effect of raising the temperature in the tea field, thereby diminishing the quality of the tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shading of the tea field step stresses the trees, causing them to strive for sunlight, and therefore increases the amount of L-theanine in their leaves. Their striving is what gives gyokuro its distinct mouthfeel, nutritional properties, and rich flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first thing we notice about this gyokuro is its almost oily smell. Its first long infusion has a bitterness that draws us forwards first, followed by a dense, round mouthfeel that pulls us back and downwards. This tea's ability to activate us is very legible on the palate, and it extends a watery sense of movement throughout the entire body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing infusions are still dense on the palate. Gradually its salinity recedes, while a pleasant florality emerges, all the while rocking us backwards and forwards.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":51356787933464,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251202_Cultivate_12509_WEB.jpg?v=1765917058"},{"product_id":"dento-hon-gyokuro-mei","title":"Yame Gyokuro \"Mei\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eYame is a special place. It is defined by dramatic mountains and cascading waterfalls. It is also known to produce the best Gyokuro in Japan, making it home to the traditional craftsmanship for this kind of tea. Over 100 years of experience making Gyokuro lives in Yame and thus, the tea that comes from here has set the standard for Gyokuro around the world for a very long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. The narrow river valleys of the Yame region create the ideal conditions for these tea trees, and they are able to flourish naturally, without much human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry, the tea leaves smell sweet, like lychee and oatmeal. The first long-infusion brews a semi-translucent yellow liquor, leaving revitalized blue-green leaves glowing in the gaiwan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first infusion has a soft, heavy mouthfeel – savoury at first, with a lingering floral aftertaste. Sweeter tropical notes come out in the second Infusion, along with an uplifting astringency and a blooming mouthfeel that seems to expand on our palates after we've swallowed. By the third infusion its strong character has softened, while the liquor maintains an impressive density.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g","offer_id":51356788982040,"sku":null,"price":52.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2475_387e95a5-1dd8-4046-ab3c-940f508ac6e0.jpg?v=1765917487"},{"product_id":"dento-hon-gyokuro-kyoku","title":"Gyokuro \"Kyoku\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eYame is a special place. It is defined by dramatic mountains and cascading waterfalls. It is also known to produce the best Gyokuro in Japan, making it home to the traditional craftsmanship for this kind of tea. Over 100 years of experience making Gyokuro lives in Yame and thus, the tea that comes from here has set the standard for Gyokuro around the world for a very long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGyokuro depends on shade, and the best ones are grown in the valleys of mountains where there is little direct sunlight. The narrow river valleys of the Yame region create the ideal conditions for these tea trees, and they are able to flourish naturally, without much human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand picked and hand crafted, the dry leaves of this tea are stunning: dark, fine, and oily, they look finished, like glazed ceramics. They have an intense and unique scent, somewhere between floral and metallic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey brew an impressively clear first-infusion, the colour of lemon candies. Afterwards the wet leaves in the gaiwan that look so alive, speckled with vibrant stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a very pleasant tea, without bitterness or even vegetal notes – there's no resistance. We feel tricked into tasting sugar crystals in the first infusion, as if it wakes up sweetness receptors on our tongue. Second and third Infusions brew such a silky, unified liquor that leaves itself pasted to our palates, the way a jasmine tea does. It isn't too heavy, but it still knows gravity. This soft downward sensation and sweet, balanced character is very soothing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"6g Taster Pack","offer_id":51356791046424,"sku":null,"price":18.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25g","offer_id":51357219684632,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":51356791013656,"sku":null,"price":78.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A2386_a4cb7b27-091f-4a64-8ccd-86951cf3da11.jpg?v=1765917624"}],"url":"https:\/\/cultivatetea.com\/collections\/gyokuro\/flavour-silken.oembed","provider":"Cultivate Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}