Shincha 2026 Hayai
Shincha 2026 Hayai
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! 🌊 After a 2-year hiatus: we’ve once again secured the rare and exclusive Shōju cultivar for our Shincha Hayai 🌟🍃
The very first green tea of the new 2026 season comes from Mr. Eiichi on the island of Tanegashima, in the far south of Japan. Along with the ➡️SHINCHA MIDORI, it is flown directly to us from the tea farm. This guarantees maximum freshness but also means availability is extremely limited! Thanks to the Shōju cultivar (tea bush variety), this is an incredibly smooth, naturally sweet Shincha green tea with deep umami, perfectly balanced body, and a fresh aroma. As soon as you open the package, a scent reminiscent of a fresh spring breeze and light fruitiness wafts toward you.
A unique shincha that can only come from Tanegashima. The Shoju cultivar is found exclusively on Tanegashima and was developed by Eiichi Matsushita and the Tanegashima Tea Association. Naturally, Eiichi-san uses absolutely no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Thanks to its high quality, this green tea can be steeped at least four times! We will only have a very limited quantity in stock, as Mr. Eiichi produces only a limited amount each year and his Shincha is extremely popular in Japan.
Variety: SHINCHA Sencha (loose green tea, lightly shaded, premium selection)
Characteristics: smooth, natural sweetness, aromatic and full-bodied, deep umami, slightly floral, fruity aftertaste, top-quality First Flush Shincha
Shading: Asamushi (light)
Producer: Mr. Eiichi (Tanegashima Tea Association)
Cultivation: No pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers
Awards: Gold winner at the Japanese Tea Selection Paris 2025
Origin: Tanegashima , Kyushu, Japan
Harvest: Early harvest 2026
Cultivar: Shoju
Content: 50g
Delivery: approx. 2-3 working days (Germany, other countries)
Message from the tea farmer
My goal is not merely to grow Japan’s very first green tea. I strive to produce an exquisite, aromatic tea from Tanegashima—the “home of the first spring tea.” Surrounded by the sea on all sides and blessed with clear air and a mild climate, the first tea is grown naturally, which brings out its fresh aroma particularly well and results in a full-bodied, aromatic tea with a naturally sweet note.
Eiichi San: Fourth-Generation Tea Pioneer
In 1909, his great-grandfather, a tea farmer from Shizuoka, moved to Tanegashima and founded the family-run tea farm. Eiichi San has been running the family business for 50 years now and has made Shincha Hayai one of the very best shincha teas in the world.
Gold Medalist
Shincha Hayai (Shoju) won a gold medal at the prestigious Japanese Tea Selection in Paris in 2025. This is one of the highest honors a Japanese tea can receive.
At least 4 infusions
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Highest green tea quality also means that many infusions are possible from the same tea leaves: from full-bodied & sweet to fresh & fruity to gentle & fresh, the taste of this premium shincha changes from infusion to infusion. Our recommendation for infusion times and temperatures can be found below.
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This loose-leaf Shincha green tea has a smooth, full-bodied aroma with sweet notes and a deep umami flavor. It is exceptionally fresh and full of aroma. The Shoju cultivar (tea plant variety) gives it an almost velvety-smooth taste.
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This Shincha comes from the far southern island of Tanegashima. Mr. Eiichi runs the farm without the use of pesticides & is very committed to pesticide-free cultivation and the spread of this type of cultivation on Tanegashima.
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The Shincha is naturally grown completely pesticide-free and without chemical fertilizers.
Mr. Eiichi uses tea bushes of the Shoju cultivar—which he developed himself—to produce his full-bodied Sencha. This variety of tea plant is ready for harvest earlier than, for example, Yabukita, and has a naturally sweet and mellow character. Not sure what that means? We explain it in our FAQ.
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Shincha is very fresh and has a higher moisture content than regular Sencha green tea. Therefore, you should drink it quickly to fully enjoy its aroma.
1 teaspoon per 100ml / 60 degrees / 120 seconds
The loose tea is brewed in a pot with a sieve. Alternatively, you can use disposable tea bags. It is a sweet, aromatic and smooth green tea and tastes good to both beginners and green tea connoisseurs. Our tutorial video below shows you how easy it is to prepare.
For the first infusion, we recommend a temperature of 60°C and a brewing time of 120 seconds. This corresponds roughly to the preparation of Gyokuro and creates a balanced, fully aromatic taste experience with sweetish notes. We would recommend brewing the 2nd infusion at 60 - 70°C for 10 seconds. Here, more freshness and a light fruitiness come through. The umami is still strong. For the 3rd infusion, we recommend 70°C and an infusion time of 15 seconds. A nice freshness, slight tartness and a little less umami can be tasted. We recommend the 4th infusion at 75°C and 20s. Further infusions are possible depending on taste.
Another preparation option is the classic Sencha variant: with 70°C water and 60s infusion time, you get a clear, fresh and slightly sweeter infusion. Further infusions are then slightly hotter with a shorter infusion time (10-20s).
Coldinfusion
Our senchas are also particularly suitable for cold brewing: simply double the amount of sencha with cold water and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. Your delicious refreshment is ready. Our tutorial video below shows you this simple and super refreshing preparation method.
Storage
Shincha Sencha comes in a sealed and resealable aroma bag. This makes it super easy to remove and the tea stays fresh for a long time. For even easier removal, we recommend our Washi tea tins, artfully covered with tissue paper.
