Pan-Fired Tamaryokucha Green Tea
Roasted greens, almond and a slight tartness: curled tea fired in a pan, the way Chinese green tea is made.
Pan-fired tamaryokucha, also called kamairi tamaryokucha, is curled green tea heated in a hot pan instead of steamed. The cup is warm and softly nutty, with roasted greens, almond, toasted cashew and a slight tartness.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 30 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 12.5 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 | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Curled Leaf |
| Water temperature | 176°F / 80°C |
| Target brew time | 0:45-1:15 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 2.9 g loose-leaf green tea
- 240 g filtered water at 80°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 2.9 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 80°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 1:20Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
A number worth knowing
We list about 30 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Rare, so go slowly
Pan-fired curled tea is made in small amounts, so each producer's version can taste noticeably different. Start at 80°C, then move a few degrees either way to find what you like.
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.
Pan-fired tamaryokucha, also called kamairi tamaryokucha, is curled green tea heated in a hot pan instead of steamed. The cup is warm and softly nutty, with roasted greens, almond, toasted cashew and a slight tartness. Brewed in a kyusu at 80°C.
Origin & Story
Most Japanese green tea is steamed. This one is not. After picking, the leaf is heated in a hot pan to stop it from oxidizing, the method used for most Chinese green tea and quite rare in Japan today. The result is a warmer, more roasted aroma than the fresh-grass taste of a steamed tea. The Japanese name says it plainly: kamairi means pan-roasted, from kama, the iron pan, and iri, to fry or roast.
Saga Prefecture is regarded as the birthplace of pan-fired tea in Japan. The story is that in 1504 a Ming dynasty potter from China, living in Ureshino, brought a Nanjing-style pan, and the technique spread from there.
Today pan-fired tamaryokucha is a small part of the picture. The great majority of Ureshino's curled tea is steamed, and the pan-fired kind is also made in Kumamoto and Miyazaki. That rarity is part of its appeal.
The leaf is curled like its steamed cousin, and it brews the same way: water at 80°C for about a minute, or 70°C for two. The cup comes out golden, with roasted greens, almond and a slight tartness. Use about 3 g of leaf for 240 ml and pour the pot out completely.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 72/100 |
| Acidity | 30/100 |
| Bitterness | 24/100 |
| Body | 56/100 |
| Aroma | 90/100 |
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 Pan-Fired Tamaryokucha Green Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 30 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Pan-Fired Tamaryokucha Green Tea?
Target 80°C (176°F).
How long should Pan-Fired Tamaryokucha Green Tea be extracted?
Timing: 0:45-1:15. Method: Kyusu Teapot. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Curled Leaf.
What is kamairicha?
Kamairicha is Japanese green tea heated in a pan instead of steamed, the way most Chinese green tea is made. It is rare in Japan today, and when the leaf is curled it is called pan-fired tamaryokucha.
Is pan-fired tamaryokucha the same as steamed tamaryokucha?
No. Both are curled leaf, but the steamed kind is made like sencha, with steam to stop oxidation, while the pan-fired kind is heated in a hot pan. That gives it a roasted, nutty note, and steamed tamaryokucha is far more common.
Who should avoid Pan-Fired Tamaryokucha Green Tea?
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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