2025 Shincha Shigeru No. 2

“Shigeru No. 2” is Sweeter and Richer Than Ever This Year!

With the arrival of spring, the new tea season is upon us once again!
Thanks to the blessings of nature and the tireless efforts of tea farmers, the fresh and vibrant "Hashiri Shincha" is making its way to us in 2025.

At Senchado Tokyo, we will be offering two types of shincha this year: a "Single-Origin Shincha" selected as the most suitable representation of this year's harvest, and a more accessible "Blended Shincha." This product is the Single-Origin Shincha, "Shigeru No. 2."

Rediscovering the Ancient Sensibility of Tea Through Spoken Words

Tea is wild by nature, and where it grows, it thrives on mountain ridges. Thus, it absorbs the vital energy of the mountains and rivers and nurtures the essence of the pure breeze.

Its leaves do not wither in the winter months, remaining green throughout the four seasons. The young shoots are tender, and the taste is mellow and rich.

Tea is picked after the 88th night of spring, when the warm energy of the sun has fully awakened, enhancing the fragrance more and more.

This passage is a modern interpretation of historical texts such as Eisai’s *Kissa Yōjōki*, Akinari Ueda’s *Seifūsagen*, and Hitomi Hitsudai’s *Honchō Shokkan*, shedding light on the essence of tea. It distills the heritage of Chinese tea culture and Japan’s unique food traditions into a poetic reflection. When read aloud, the beautiful rhythm and sound evoke a deep reverence for nature. This longer version of the passage is featured on this year’s Hashiri Shincha packaging.

Sencha is Becoming More Precious Than Ever

The number of tea farmers is declining year by year. Aging populations and the lack of successors are forcing many to stop farming.
In addition, the growing global demand for matcha has led to a shift from sencha cultivation to matcha-focused production.
Amid these trends, the availability of sencha is expected to decrease even further in the coming years.

Embrace the Present Moment Through Shincha

According to Mr. Yagi of Meikou Tea Farm, “Early-harvest varieties were delayed by about a week, while late-harvest ones ripened quickly due to the sudden warmth. It looks like this season will be short and intense.” Each year’s unique weather gives rise to once-in-a-lifetime teas. We hope you’ll take this chance to savor the moment and enjoy a dialogue with nature through this year’s shincha.

The long-awaited 2025 Hashiri Shincha comes from Ei in Kagoshima, the southernmost tip of Kyushu, featuring the ‘Shigeru No. 2’ cultivar.

The freshly harvested tea arrived just the other day, and we opened it the very same day. The bag released a sweet aroma filled with the warmth of spring... “No doubt about it—this is the one!”

Having sourced tea from this field for years, it feels as though we are finally witnessing its full potential. The astringency is subdued, the flavor is round and mellow, and despite being deeply steamed, it has a beautiful and delicate luster.

Enjoy the Rich, Sweet Aroma Before It Evaporates – Limited Release on Tuesday, April 29!

We want you to enjoy this one-of-a-kind aroma—only available with Hashiri Shincha—before it fades away.
Limited sales will begin at 6:00 PM JST / 5:00 AM EDT on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Orders will begin shipping the following day.