Japan — tea

Uji

Uji is the spiritual capital of Japanese tea. Its 800-year matcha and sencha tradition has set the global standard for shade-grown, stone-ground tea. The district's unique combination of river mist, red clay soil, and centuries of cultivar selection produces the umami depth (theanine concentration from shade stress) that defines premium Japanese green tea. Uji matcha is the only tea considered appropriate for the highest levels of chanoyu (tea ceremony). The designation "Uji-cha" carries a GI protection under Japanese law.

Benchmark products

Year	Rating	Notes
2023	88	Very good conditions; excellent gyokuro and tencha quality.
2022	94	Benchmark year; perfect spring temperature with optimal shade duration. Finest Uji tea in a decade.
2021	88	Ideal conditions; perfect April temperatures for slow, flavour-accumulating growth. Exceptional gyokuro and matcha.
2020	82	Late spring start with cool temperatures; excellent umami development in gyokuro and tencha. Classic Uji quality.
2019	72	Early spring warmth accelerated first flush; some heat stress reduced umami in gyokuro. Adequate but not exceptional.