The Arrival of the Fresh 2025 Hashiri Shincha
With the arrival of spring, the new tea season has come again! In 2025 as well, thanks to nature’s blessings and the tireless dedication of tea farmers, the fresh and vibrant "Hashiri Shincha" is approaching us once more.
At Senchado Tokyo, we are planning to offer two types of shincha this year: a “Single-Origin Shincha” chosen from our yearly selection as the best representation of Hashiri Shincha, and an affordable “Blended Shincha.”
Rediscovering Ancient Tea Sensibility Through the Spoken Word
Tea, in its wild form, grows naturally on mountain peaks. As such, it absorbs the vital energy of the mountains and rivers and nurtures the essence of the pure breeze.
Its leaves do not wither even in winter, remaining green throughout the year. The young shoots are tender, and their flavor is mellow and rich.
The tea is picked after the 88th night of spring when the season has fully awakened. At that point, its fragrance becomes even more vibrant and plentiful.
This passage sheds light on historical texts such as *Kissa Yōjōki* by Eisai, *Seifūsagen* by Ueda Akinari, and *Honchō Shokkan* by Hitomi Hitsudai. These words, interpreted into modern language, delve into the essence of tea. They condense the cultural legacy of Chinese tea and Japan’s unique food and beverage traditions. When read aloud, their rhythm and tone express a reverence for nature. We featured a slightly longer version of this text on this year’s Hashiri Shincha packaging.
Sencha is Becoming More and More Precious
The number of tea farmers is decreasing year by year. Many are forced to stop cultivating due to aging and the lack of successors. Additionally, the rising global demand for matcha has led to more tea fields converting from sencha to matcha cultivation. In this changing era, the supply of sencha is expected to decline even further.
Let’s Welcome the New Tea Season — “Shigeru No. 2,” the Sweetest Ever!
According to Mr. Yagi of Meikou Tea Farm, “Early-harvest varieties were delayed by about a week, while late-harvest ones matured quickly due to the sudden warmth, leading to a short, concentrated season.” Each year, tea becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience shaped by that year's climate and weather. We hope you’ll enjoy this year’s shincha as a way to engage with the present moment and savor a dialogue with nature.
This year’s highly anticipated Hashiri Shincha comes from Ei, Kagoshima—the southernmost part of Kyushu—and features the “Shigeru No. 2” cultivar. The freshly made tea arrived just the other day, and we opened it right away. A sweet aroma filled with spring warmth rose from the bag… “This is it, no doubt!”
We’ve been sourcing tea from this field for years, and it finally feels like it's reached its full expression. The bitterness is softened, the edges are rounded, and although it is deep-steamed, it retains a beautiful, delicate sheen.
Enjoy the Rich Aroma Before It Fades – Limited Release at 8:00 PM JST / 7:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
We hope you’ll enjoy this one-of-a-kind aroma—unique to Hashiri Shincha—before it disappears!
Limited sales will begin at 6:00 PM JST / 5:00 AM EDT on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Orders will begin shipping the next day.
You can place your order from the page below.
