Did you know that Japanese tea comes from many varieties of the tea plant? These varieties are called cultivars, and they can influence a tea’s flavor, aroma, and appearance.
Some cultivars are widely grown across Japan, while others are closely associated with certain regions or characteristics. Yabukita is Japan’s most widely planted cultivar, while Uji Hikari and Gokou are known for rich, umami-forward teas.
Below is our growing list of tea cultivars found in Japan, including those in our catalog and others we’ve encountered through our work with tea growers and producers.
Japanese Tea Cultivars
- Asahi - あさひ / 朝日
- Asanoka - あさのか / 朝の香
- Asatsuyu - あさつゆ / 朝露
- Benifuuki
- Benihikari
- Benihomare
- Fukumidori
- Fushun
- Gokou
- Hakuyo
- Harumidori
- Hime Midori
- Hokumei
- Horai Kincha
- Hoshun
- Inzatsu 131
- Kanaya Midori
- Karabeni
- Kirari 31
- Komakage
- Koshun
- Kuritawase
- Meiryoku
- Minekaori
- Nagomi Yutaka
- Nanmei
- Okuharuka
- Okuhikari
- Okumidori
- Okuyutaka
- Ooiwase
- Saeakari
- Saemidori
- Sai no Midori
- Sakimidori
- Samidori - さみどり / 早緑
- Sayama Kaori - さやまかおり / 狭山香
- Sayama Midori - さやまみどり / 狭山緑
- Shizu #7132 - 静7132
- Shoju - 松寿
- Shoshun - 春翔
- Shuntaro - しゅんたろう / 俊太郎
- Sun Rouge - サンルージュ
- Terakawa-wase - てらかわ早稲 / 寺川早稲
- Tsuyuhikari - つゆひかり / 露光
- Uji Hikari - うじひかり / 宇治光
- Uji Midori - うじみどり / 宇治緑
- Yabukita - やぶきた / 薮北
- Yama no Ibuki - 山の息吹
- Yamakai - やまかい / 山峡
- Yume Wakaba - ゆめわかば / 夢若葉
- Z1
- Zairai - 在来
What Is Zairai?
A cultivar is a specific type of tea plant that has been selected for particular characteristics, such as flavor, aroma, and leaf shape. Yabukita, for example, is a tea cultivar.
Zairai (在来), on the other hand, refers to tea plants that have not been selected as one specific cultivar. They are traditionally reproduced from seeds, so each plant can have different characteristics.
A cultivar = a specific type of tea plant with defined characteristics.
Zairai = naturally varied tea plants that have not been selected as one specific cultivar.
When a specific cultivar such as Yabukita is grown from seed, the term mishō (実生) may be used—for example, mishō Yabukita (実生やぶきた).
We include zairai in this list because it is an important term for understanding traditional Japanese tea.
Notable Tea Cultivars
A few cultivars stand out for their history, distinctive character, or connection to particular styles of Japanese tea.
Yabukita
Japan’s most widely planted cultivar, valued for its balanced characteristics and versatility.
Uji Hikari
Known for its rich umami and especially associated with high-quality matcha.
Asatsuyu
Known for its vivid green color and naturally sweet, mellow character.