Shincha is the first tea of the year, picked from the season's opening flush and sold within weeks of being made. Japanese growers count 88 nights from the start of spring — hachijuhachiya, around the beginning of May — as the traditional moment to harvest. The plant has spent the winter storing amino acids, so the first leaves carry more sweetness and a bright, almost fruity aroma that later harvests never quite match. That aroma is also the reason shincha is drunk young: it fades over the months, and by autumn the same tea has settled into an ordinary sencha. Brew it like a sencha, a touch cooler, and drink it while it is new.
Tea Artisan: MatsushitaさんKagoshima
Mr. Eiichi Matsushita 松下栄市 is a passionate tea farmer in the 4th generation of the family. During the steaming and processing of the tea, he stands at the steaming machine himself - like most tea masters. In 1909, Shizuoka's family settled in Tanegashima, Banyamine, bringing the tea-growing know-how to this pristine natural island. Mr. Matsushita has served as President of the Tanegashima Arasha Factory Association for 12 years. Its tea fields are located in the best green tea terroir of Tanegashima.
Origin: TanegashimaJapan
The tea farm of Mr. Eiichi Matsushita is located in the northern part of the picturesque island of Tanegashima, about 115km south of Kagoshima City. The warm subtropical climate and the fresh sea breeze, which provides mineral richness and morning mists, provide an optimal climate for growing the early Shincha cultivars. At 223m, the tea field is at the highest elevation in Banyamine and is considered Tanegashima's top terroir.
Cultivar: KuritawaseTea variety
As the name would suggest, the Shincha Tanegashima Kuritawase is made from the Kuritawase cultivar, a rare cultivar that makes up only a small fraction of the tea produced in Japan.
Kuritawase: The kuritawase cultivar is a rare gem in Japan, and it’s really only found on the islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima. It buds earlier than the common yabukita cultivar, which makes it ideal for producing shincha tea. When processed into sencha or a shincha, the kuritawase leaves produce a distinctive yellow liquor, a delightful milky aroma, and a smooth flavor with reduced astringency.
Preparation & ServingsUp to 60 cups
Hot brew: 5 g of leaves, 150 ml of water at 60°C (140°F), 1 minute.
Brew it again: the same leaves give 3 infusions. Re-infuse 2 more times with water at the same temperature, 20 seconds each; every infusion tastes a little different.
Cold brew: best enjoyed hot, we do not recommend cold brewing this tea.
One pack: Up to 60 cups · 20 × 5 g servings, 3 infusions each · 100 g / 3.5 oz.
Why choose Nio Teas?
For us, tea is more than a beverage, it’s a way of life. We’ve spent years visiting tea farms across Japan, tasting teas with the people who grow them and building lasting, direct relationships. We believe this is the most sustainable way to source tea: fewer intermediaries, greater traceability and a closer connection between farmer and drinker.
Every tea is 100% pesticide-free and carefully selected for its taste, origin and craftsmanship. Whether you’re discovering Japanese tea or comparing cultivars and terroirs, you’ll find honest tasting notes, precise brewing guidance and real support to help you get the best from every cup.
Typical values per 100 ml of brewed tea, from the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (MEXT, 8th edition), sencha infusion (food no. 16037; 10 g leaf, 430 ml water at 90°C, 1 min). Values in your cup vary with the leaf, the water and the brewing time.
Complete Your Tea RitualNo Kyusu at home? No problem!
100% Pesticide-FreeDirect from FarmersPure & UnblendedSingle-Origin TerroirSmall-Batch HarvestAuthentic Japanese Craft
Unveiling Shincha's Superfood Power
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Caffeine
Natural caffeine for a gentle, sustained lift.
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Antioxidants
Rich in catechins and other naturally occurring antioxidants.
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Chlorophyll
Naturally rich in chlorophyll, the pigment behind matcha’s vibrant green colour.
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Potassium & Calcium
Naturally occurring minerals that contribute to matcha’s nutritional profile.
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L-theanine
An amino acid naturally found in tea, associated with a calm, focused feeling.
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Vitamins A, C, E & K
Contains a range of vitamins naturally present in the whole tea leaf.
Why Buy Your Shincha from Nio Teas
No middlemen, no pesticides, no risk.
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Try it with confidence. If it isn’t right for you, contact us within 30 days.
15 Japanese Tea Farmers
Our tea brings together the craft and regional expertise of 15 partner farmers across Japan.
Direct from Farmer to Cup
We build lasting relationships with our farmers for fewer intermediaries and greater traceability.
100% Pesticide-Free Shincha
Every Shincha is grown without pesticides, then personally tasted and selected by our team.
How to Make Shincha Like a Pro
To prepare the Shincha Tanegashima Kuritawase, you can use a lower temperature water and a shorter brewing time. 1 minute should be perfect for extracting the full flavor from the tea leaves without extracting too much of the bitterness.
Heat the Water
Heat water to 60°C (140°F).
Add the Leaves
Add 5 g of leaves to a kyusu teapot.
Steep
Pour 150 ml of water and steep for 1 minute.
Pour & Brew Again
Pour out every drop, then brew the same leaves 2 more times (20 seconds each).
Loose Leaf Tea Over Teabags
Rich in Flavor, Not in Microplastics.
Farmer: Matsushitaさん
Why Organic Shincha Fields Make a Difference
Tea plants absorb everything from the soil, making pesticide-free farming especially important. The farmers we work with have found a way to grow delicious tea without harming the natural ecosystem.
Nio teas has been my favourite place to purchase good quality teas for a while now, and still they never disappoint me. Their teas are excellent quality, however, I’d like to give more attention to customer service - Nio team has been very kind and helpful each time I had any sort of problem. Their customer service never disappoints, they are very attentive and quick in responding to any queries, hence why I’ve been a loyal customer for a while now.
Apr 1, 2026
5 out of 5 stars
5/5
Sean
My favorite vendor for Japanese organic loose leaf green teas. They are sourcing some of the best organic teas out of Japan and supporting family farmers and the growing organic tea industry as a whole.I have ordered from every vendor for years and Nio consistently has the best prices and selection overall. They provide top notch customer service and fast shipping as well. Highly recommended 🍃
Shipping is free once your order passes the threshold for your country — USD 54.99 · EUR 54.99 · GBP 44.99 · CHF 49.99 · CAD 74.99 · DKK 399 · SEK 599 · PLN 229 · CZK 1,290. Everywhere else it's the equivalent of USD 54.99, converted automatically. Below the threshold a flat rate applies, always shown at checkout before you pay.
We ship from warehouses in the US, the EU and Japan — whichever is closest to you. US and EU orders arrive in 4–12 business days; the handful of countries served from Japan take around 10. Business days count from dispatch rather than from when you order, and exclude weekends and public holidays. You'll get a tracking number by email the moment your parcel leaves the warehouse.
We only buy from fields grown without pesticides or chemicals. We ask each farmer directly how they manage their land, visit the plantation and processing facility ourselves, taste every harvest before committing, and check that the biodiversity around the fields is alive. Small family farms don't always carry paperwork — so we verify it in person instead.
Japanese green tea covers an enormous range, and choosing online isn't easy. If you've tried yours and it isn't for you, email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a line on what you didn't enjoy. We'll send a different tea of equal or lower value, free. Nothing to post back — keep it, share it, or try brewing it cooler. Once per order.
Email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a photo. We'll approve it, cover the return postage with a prepaid label or a reimbursement, and refund you — no restocking fee. Refunds go to your original payment method within 2 business days of the return reaching us; your bank may take another 5–20 to show it.
Unopened items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days. Tea is sealed for hygiene, so opened packs can't come back — but the swap above covers exactly that situation. Return postage is yours unless the item arrived damaged, defective or incorrect.
Orders to the US and EU ship domestically from our local warehouse, so there's no customs charge and no duty. A small number of destinations are served from our Japan warehouse, where your own customs authority may apply import duty, VAT or a carrier handling fee on delivery. Those are set by your country, not by us. Ask before you order and we'll help you check.
Dry leaf: spices such as light scent of cinnamon and pleasant freshness
Wet leaf: light scent of Ceylon cinnamon and a buttery cream aroma with a burst of freshness
1st infusion: golden yellow and light green
Flavor of the liquor: Light and refreshing bomb of freshness with a moderate dominant astrigency yet pleasant
Palette aftertaste: freshness with almost no astringency
In general it leaves refreshing notes with a bit astrigency, you may want to try it with 65°C next time
2nd infusion: full body flavor, freshness, a bit sweet, dominant astringency with bitterness yet peacefully pleasant liquor
Palette aftertaste: freshness with pleasant dryness with some sweet notes
3rd infusion: Very similar to the second with intense astrigency yet pleasant with fresh notes and full body flavor, if you use 70°C like me, if used 60°C it will me milder.
And a tip by me, I suggest for the first infusion the water temperature being at 60°C, the second infusion at 65°C~ and the third one can be at 70°C~, with this balanced temperatures you experience a better view of flavors every time, without losing any "locked" flavor at the leaves.
Aroma of dry leaf reminiscent of hay with light spicy and floral notes.
Taste, super milky, one of the sweetest shincha I've tried, sweet but retains the character of the Japonese tea, strong and pleasantly invasive! really but really pleasant.
There is also a hint of umami and herbaceousness, but the main character remains the mild milk flavor cmq.
It leaves the sides of the mouth salivating and leaves you wanting more.
This tea was very sweer and mild. I like the flavor and I even noticed the hint of green apple mentioned. This was the first Kuritawase tea I have had and I must say I'm a fan!
A very tasty 2024 tea that was a joy to sip. Dry notes were fresh and grassy with a hint of roasted plantain. When wet, some of sweetness disappeared and more of the fresh grassiness was in the forefront.
The liquor is bright and clear with some wonderful, light grassy notes and hints of a sweet aftertaste. Overall, an excellent tea and one I will continue to enjoy sipping!
