Peter & Ponyo

Peter & Ponyo is a 2025 Competition Grade Saemidori Heritage Gyokuro tea. It is an exquisite, competition-grade green tea from the Yame region of Japan, known for its rich umami flavor, sweet aroma, and buttery mouthfeel. It is produced by the multi-award-winning Kurihara family tea farm.

Flavor Profile and Characteristics

• Aroma: Sweet, savory, and buttery.
• Flavor: A rich umami flavor that is clean and vegetal, with notes of aged cheese and roasted corn. It is known for having no bitterness or astringency. The flavor sweetens on the linger and with subsequent steepings.
• Mouthfeel: Thick and smooth, with a creamy or buttery texture.
• Liquor: Brews to a cloudy, bright green-gold color.

Production Details

• Region: Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
• Estate: Produced by the Kurihara family, who have been growing tea since 1942.
• Harvest: Late May to Early June.
• Varietal: Made from the single Saemidori cultivar.
• Shading Method: The tea plants are shaded using traditional handmade bamboo and/or straw mats for approximately 85% of the sunlight, which increases the an theanine content, reduces bitterness, and adds a unique flavor from the moisture dripping from the natural shading.
• Handpicking: The leaves are handpicked, a technique that involves cutting off the apex bud in the spring to force nutrients into the lateral buds, infusing the new leaves with flavor.
• Aging: While many producers age Gyokuro, Kurihara makes this available as a shincha (fresh tea) so customers can age it at home if desired, which further balances the flavor and strengthens the umami.

Suggested Preparation

According to some retailers, the suggested preparation method is as follows:

• Leaves to Water Ratio: 1.5 tsp (3 grams) of leaves to 1.5 oz of water.
• Temperature: 145°F (63°C).
• Steep Time: 1 minute for the first infusion.
• Multiple Infusions: The leaves can be steeped 3 or more times.
• Teaware: Glass or porcelain is ideal.

The used leaves can also be eaten as a salad topping with soy sauce and bonito flakes.