Uji Shincha Teabags (Teapot Size) - 8 Bags

Each spring, as the weather starts to warm, the tea fields in the mountains south of Kyoto begin to awaken. The tea plants that huddled up, storing their energy and nutrients over the cold, long winter, begin to put out tiny green buds. Over the course of a month, these buds start to grow, reaching up and up for the wide blue sky. When the time is right, tea farmers get busy harvesting the spry new leaves.

At Ippodo, we blend selected fresh new sencha harvests to produce our Shincha tea each year. This limited release is only available for a short time in early summer.

In the mountainous environment where the trees grow, small changes in the weather day-to-day affect the nuances that develop in the tea. As a result, the distinctive character of this year’s Shincha will never be repeated.

Shincha 2025’s highlight is its brilliant, soaring fragrance. It’s classic Shincha: sunny, fresh, and vivid green.

In the cup, its umami is robust, concentrated, and satisfying. The savory notes linger long after you swallow, while the dry, astringent notes are relatively light, making this an accessible year for beginners.

Its aroma reminds us of snap peas, tomato vine, and fresh-cut grass.

Visually, its beautiful vibrant leaves and golden brew color make this year’s Shincha a treat for the eyes as well.

For first-timers, this year is a classic introduction to Shincha, full of energy and green freshness. Longtime fans will enjoy its vivid fragrance, balanced taste, and complexity over many brews.

For an easy batch of fragrant Shincha, try these large teabags. Each is filled with the same Shincha teabags as the loose leaf version. The teabags are a spacious, pyramid shape, allowing the leaves to expand freely while they brew. They're large enough to be used in a teapot or a pitcher, and you can also use them with a large mug when brewing for one.