Premium Sencha (Loose Leaf Tea) "Hatsutsumi" 100g by Hoshino Tea 星野製茶園 in Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture

Hatsutsumi is a premium first-harvest sencha from Hoshino Tea Company in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan. Blended from the tender first-harvest buds of several tea cultivars, including Tsuyuhikari and Saemidori, it offers a rich umami character, gentle astringency, and a beautifully vibrant green liquor.

The name Hatsutsumi refers to the beginning of the year’s tea harvest. Cultivars such as Tsuyuhikari and Saemidori begin producing new buds earlier than the widely grown Yabukita cultivar, making Hatsutsumi an especially early expression of first-harvest Yame Sencha.

When brewed, the tea reveals a bright green color reminiscent of morning dew on moss. Its pronounced umami is balanced by just a faint, pleasant astringency, creating a cup that is flavorful yet remarkably easy to drink. It is a tea we have enjoyed sharing with guests at our Tea Master Matcha Café and Green Tea Shop in Downtown Los Angeles.

Whether enjoyed as an everyday tea or saved for a special occasion, Hatsutsumi is an approachable way to experience a more refined style of Yame Sencha. It is easy to prepare, rewarding over multiple infusions, and expressive enough to reveal something a little different with each steep.

PREPARATION

Please enjoy our guide, “How to Hot Green Tea,” for simple instructions on preparing Hatsutsumi traditionally.

Hatsutsumi can be enjoyed for up to three infusions. As a starting point, we recommend:

• First infusion: approximately 80 seconds

• Second infusion: approximately 60 seconds

• Third infusion: approximately 120 seconds

These are simply starting points—we encourage you to experiment with steeping time, water temperature, and the amount of tea to find the cup you enjoy most.

For a refreshing cold preparation, Hatsutsumi also works beautifully as a cold brew or brewed stronger and poured over ice. When preparing it to pour over ice, try approximately doubling the steeping time for each infusion.

As with all of our Sencha teas, we recommend enjoying Hatsutsumi on its own, without milk or sweetener, so that its natural umami, aroma, and changing character across infusions can be fully appreciated.

Looking for a more approachable everyday Yame Sencha? Try our 2026 First Harvest Sencha, also produced by Hoshino Tea in Yame and especially enjoyable hot, iced, or cold brewed.

We believe every tea is an invitation to enjoy, explore, and educate. We invite you to be a Tea Master, no matter where you are on your tea journey, and discover a way to prepare this tea that works for you and your tea guests.

FLAVOR PROFILE:

Richness: 3/5
Bite: 2/5
Aroma: 3/5
Vibrancy: 3/5
Umami: 4/5

MANUFACTURER: HOSHINO TEA COMPANY　星野製茶園

ORIGIN: Yame 八女, Fukuoka Prefecture 福岡県, Japan 日本

SIZE: 100 grams (makes approximately 10–20 teapots)

PACKAGING: Non-resealable plastic pouch