What is 'Gyokuro-grade Matcha'? How is its quality?

MatchaGyokuroJapanese TeaTea Quality
Created At: 7/29/2025Updated At: 8/18/2025

What is "Gyokuro-style Matcha"?

Gyokuro-style matcha refers to matcha made from gyokuro tea leaves or produced using cultivation methods similar to those for gyokuro. Gyokuro is a premium Japanese green tea uniquely characterized by shade-growing (covering tea plants for approximately 20 days before harvesting). This reduces sunlight exposure and increases theanine content in the leaves, resulting in a rich umami and sweet flavor. Matcha is a form of green tea where leaves are ground into a fine powder. Gyokuro-style matcha inherits the refined craftsmanship and flavor profile of gyokuro, often used in tea ceremonies or high-quality beverages.

How is its quality?

Gyokuro-style matcha typically boasts exceptional quality and is regarded as a premium grade of matcha, featuring the following characteristics:

  • Flavor: Pronounced umami with distinct sweetness and low astringency. Smooth, delicate texture and a long-lasting finish.
  • Color: Vibrant emerald green, indicating freshness, meticulous processing, and absence of oxidation or impurities.
  • Nutritional Value: Rich in theanine (promotes relaxation), catechins (antioxidants), and vitamins, offering significant health benefits.
  • Rarity & Price: Due to the labor-intensive cultivation of gyokuro (shade treatment requires precise manual management), yields are limited. Thus, gyokuro-style matcha commands higher prices and is positioned as a luxury product.
  • Versatility: Ideal for pure consumption or use in premium desserts. Quality remains stable but requires proper storage (light-proof and sealed) to preserve flavor.
Created At: 08-04 13:38:52Updated At: 08-09 01:08:17