Shincha First-Harvest Green Tea
Fresh grass, sweet vegetables and a hint of sea air: the first tea of the year, soft and lively.
Shincha means new tea: the first leaves of the spring harvest, sweet, soft and fresh. This Shizuoka shincha tastes of fresh grass, sweet vegetables and sea breeze with a clean finish. Brewed in a kyusu at 75°C for about a minute.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 34 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 14.2 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 | 1:83 |
| Dose & yield | 2.9g → 240g |
| Grind size | Whole Leaf |
| Water temperature | 167°F / 75°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 75°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 75°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
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 34 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Drink it fresh
New tea is at its best in the weeks after it is made. Brew a generous first pot while the bag is fresh, and keep the rest sealed and cool.
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.
Shincha means new tea: the first leaves of the spring harvest, sweet, soft and fresh. This Shizuoka shincha tastes of fresh grass, sweet vegetables and sea breeze with a clean finish. Brewed in a kyusu at 75°C for about a minute.
Origin & Story
Shincha means new tea, and the name is literal. It is the first picking of the year, the tender growth that appears after winter, and in Japan its arrival is a small seasonal event. Picking begins in the warm south, in Kagoshima, in early April, reaches Uji in late April and moves north through mid-May. In Shizuoka the new tea comes from late April into early May.
Tradition has a date for it. Hachijuhachiya, the 88th night after the start of spring, falls around the first of May and used to mark the start of picking. Tea gathered then was the year's first, and it was meant to be drunk fresh.
Because it is so new, shincha is gentle and lively rather than deep. It tastes of fresh grass and sweet vegetables, with a sea-breeze edge and a clean, sweet finish, and it has less of the weight of later pickings. It also has a short season, which is part of its appeal.
Brew it gently. Use about 3 g of leaf for 240 ml, water at around 75°C, and pour after about a minute. A cooler, shorter steep keeps the freshness and a hot, long one flattens it.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 78/100 |
| Acidity | 30/100 |
| Bitterness | 18/100 |
| Body | 50/100 |
| Aroma | 94/100 |
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 Shincha First-Harvest Green Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 34 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Shincha First-Harvest Green Tea?
Target 75°C (167°F).
How long should Shincha First-Harvest Green Tea be extracted?
Timing: 0:45-1:15. Method: Kyusu Teapot. Ratio: 12g leaves per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Whole Leaf.
What is shincha?
Shincha, or new tea, is the first harvest of the year. It is the same as ichibancha, the first picking, and it is made from the youngest spring growth.
When is shincha picked?
In Japan the first pickings start in early April in the south and move north through mid-May. Kagoshima comes first, then Uji, and Shizuoka from late April into early May.
Who should avoid Shincha First-Harvest 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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