Gyokuro Reserve

100% first flush, limited edition, high-theanine gyokuro. If you're looking for Japan's most umami-laden green tea, you've found it. 

This uniquely Japanese tea is harvested by hand and, like matcha, grown under black netting for about three weeks prior to harvest. This "babying" treatment of shading the delicate leaves produces potent umami -- it's very dashi-like, and there is nothing quite like it.

Combine that intense umami with notes of butter, miso, kelp, edible flowers, and even custard, for a truly rich and heady taste experience. Loads of L-theanine and a higher caffeine content than matcha (about 60mg per serving, versus matcha's 25-30) make it the ideal accompaniment to focused work, reading/studying, and driving.

If you have a meditation practice, do try practicing after a cup. It's the perfect combination of heightened alertness and deep relaxation. 

Important: the leaves are not only edible after steeping, but delicious -- as sashimi on a small plate with a tiny amount of soy sauce. Try topping hot rice with them. Toss them into salads. Excellent on tofu and fish.