Kagoshima Chiran Sencha
Early-spring sencha from the far south of Japan: deep green, smooth umami, little astringency.
Chiran, in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, picks some of Japan's earliest sencha, with a mild climate that often starts the harvest in late March or early April.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 40 mg in one serving (5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml)), a concentration of 24.2 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Kyusu / Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:42 |
| Dose & yield | 3.9g → 165g |
| Grind size | Cut Leaf |
| Water temperature | 158°F / 70°C |
| Target brew time | 60–90 seconds |
| Serving | 5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml) |
What you need
- 3.9 g loose-leaf green tea
- 165 g filtered water at 70°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 3.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 165 g of water at 70°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 1:35Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 40 mg for a 5 to 6 oz (150 to 180 ml) cup, made with a generous 3 to 4 g of leaf per 150 ml.
A small, strong cup
This page is written for a small cup of 150 to 180 ml with a generous dose of leaf. If you pour into a bigger cup, add leaf in proportion rather than steeping longer.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Chiran, in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, picks some of Japan's earliest sencha, with a mild climate that often starts the harvest in late March or early April. The cup is deep green and smooth, with umami, seaweed, sweet grass and spinach. Brewed in a kyusu at 70°C.
Origin & Story
Chiran sits near the southern end of Kyushu, in what is now the city of Minamikyushu in Kagoshima Prefecture. Its mild climate and the fertile soil near the volcano Sakurajima suit tea, and the harvest starts early: in many years the first leaves are picked in late March or early April, weeks before Uji or Shizuoka begin.
Tea has been grown around Chiran for a long time, but the industry as it exists today took off in the Meiji era, when villagers began planting tea in fields in 1872. Kagoshima as a whole ranks second to Shizuoka by volume, though in 2019 it passed Shizuoka in the value of its tea, and Chiran is among its best-known districts.
This sencha is deep green and smooth, with umami, a trace of seaweed, sweet grass and spinach, and less astringency than a sharper sencha. The early leaf is soft, so the cup comes across as rounded rather than brisk.
Use 3 to 4 g of leaf for a 150 ml cup, water at 70°C, and pour after 60 to 90 seconds. A small cup and a generous dose suit it, and a second infusion with slightly hotter water, poured quickly, is often as good as the first.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 65/100 |
| Acidity | 40/100 |
| Bitterness | 35/100 |
| Body | 55/100 |
| Aroma | 80/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Kagoshima Chiran Sencha?
One serving, 5–6 oz cup (150–180 ml), contains approximately 40 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Kagoshima Chiran Sencha?
Target 70°C (158°F).
How long should Kagoshima Chiran Sencha be extracted?
Timing: 60–90 seconds. Method: Kyusu / Teapot. Ratio: 3–4g per 150ml water. Grind or leaf format: Cut Leaf.
Why does Chiran tea come early?
Chiran is in the far south of Japan, where the mild climate lets the first leaves be picked in late March or early April, weeks before Kyoto or Shizuoka.
Where is Chiran?
Chiran is a former town in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. It is now part of the city of Minamikyushu.
Who should avoid Kagoshima Chiran Sencha?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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