Harvest Date: Spring 2025
Harvest Location: Yame, Fukuoka, Japan
Cultivar: Izumi
Elevation: 400 meters
This red tea is crafted in the first-flush Darjeeling tradition, but expressed through Japan’s rare Izumi cultivar, harvested in spring 2025 from the mountain gardens of Yame, Fukuoka. Early-season leaves are picked at their most delicate, then lightly withered and gently rolled to preserve their natural sweetness. Oxidation stays on the lighter side, keeping the profile vivid and lifted while still carrying the warmth expected from a red tea.
The aroma layers together peach skin, soft citrus, and highland florals, with that clean, airy brightness Izumi is known for. The cup glows clear and lively—crisp fruit at the opening, a smooth honey-grain mid-note, and a refreshing finish that stays light on the palate.
For anyone who loves the sparkling freshness of first-flush Darjeeling but wants something distinctly Japanese, this bridges both worlds. Elegant, bright, and beautifully seasonal—excellent hot, and quietly expressive as a cold brew.