Okumidori Barista Matcha - Eshimaさん Yame

Okumidori (おくみどり) is a popular cultivar choice for Matcha due to its attractive green color. This Matcha highlights just why that is. Produced by one of Yame’s most prolific tea figures, Eshimaさん.

A recipient of the highly prestigious Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize (農林水産大臣賞) in 2014 by The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for his work in supporting tea from Yame.

Eshimaさん also serves as the president of the 700-member Miroku-en tea co-operation. Many producers that Ooika has featured such as Kuma-san and Kurazumi-san are members.

This Matcha was shaded using a reflective Jikabuse (じかぶせ) tarp, with aluminum strands woven into the fabric. This kind of tarp is over 3x the price of a standard tarp but does a superior job pushing away more heat, keeping the tea plants cooler - and thus creating a superior final Matcha.

Eshimaさん then sends his unrefined tea (known as Aracha) to the 6th generation master tea refiner Nakashimaさん who does a final refinement process.

Nakashimaさん applies a final light roasting on the tea known as “Hiire”, at about 90 to 100c for about 12 to 30 minutes.

He explained that this process helps “set the flavor of the tea and lock it in”, as well as further decrease the moisture content of the tea and prevent mold.

This firing process is delicate, as the flavor of the Matcha can be ruined, making the tea taste “too roasty.” Freshness & color and roasty aromas are on opposite sides of the same spectrum.

Nakashimaさん is a renowned expert in his own right – his business has been continuing for over 130 years.

The actual temperature and duration of the roast are bespoke based on the specific batch of unrefined tea (Aracha.) There is no standardized Hiire - it’s always expertly customized.

To make a fresh and smooth bowl of Usucha or Koicha, follow our brewing instructions.

Long-term Storage: Store unopened Ooika Matcha in the refrigerator. Consume within 6 months.

Room-Temp Short-term Storage: Store opened Ooika Matcha in a cool, dark place away from sunlight. Consume within 3 months.

Refrigerator Short-term Storage: Opened Matcha can be stored in the refrigerator to help maintain freshness, however, the Matcha is at risk of condensation when cooler than ambient air. For this reason, if you choose to store an opened Matcha in the refrigerator, be sure to take the Matcha you need and then immediately place it back in the refrigerator to minimize exposure to the warm air.