【Seasonal Only】Ceremonial Matcha 若森の白 Wakamori no Shiro | Kanbayashi Shunsho

Kuchikiri Matcha has arrived – The First Tea of the New Season

After the tea leaves are picked in May, they are processed into tencha (the leaf form before matcha).
These tencha leaves are placed into a clay tea jar, sealed, and stored in a cool place.
All through the summer, the tea quietly rests and matures.
When autumn arrives, the tea jar is opened for the first time.
This traditional moment is called kuchikiri, meaning “cutting the seal.”
The aged tencha is then gently ground using a stone mill to become fresh matcha.

On the palate, it begins smooth and refreshing, then gently deepens into soft umami. A clean sweetness follows — light and elegant — with a lingering, creamy finish that leaves a pleasant sweet-umami echo.

Kuchikiri Matcha is a limited seasonal tea, available only at this special time of year.
This matcha is not only a taste, but a seasonal celebration — an invitation to pause, reflect, and savour the harmony between nature’s rhythm and human craft.

Detail
Net weight: 40g in a tin

Artisan
The Kanbayashi Shunsho family, an esteemed Uji tea producer, has cultivated a legacy over fifteen generations since the Eiroku era (around 1560). This journey began with Kamon no Jo Hisashige, who moved from Kanbayashi Township in Tanba to Uji and established himself as a prominent figure in the tea industry. As the leading tea master in Uji, he played an integral role in both production and distribution. During the Edo period (1603-1867), he held the title of “Gomotsu Ochashi,” the highest tea master rank, and supplied tea to the shogunate and influential feudal lords.

Around the Meiji era, under the leadership of the 11th generation Shunsho, the family expanded its offerings to include “gyokuro” and “sencha,” two newly popular teas of the time, and became well known as a high-quality tea house.

Today, the Kanbayashi Shunsho family proudly stands as the sole remaining descendant of the Uji tea master lineage, with a rich history spanning over 450 years. They guide their commitment to crafting high-quality tea, preserving a tradition and spirit that have endured for centuries.