Fruits and Nuts Aug. 2010 F_N- 15 Characteristics of Eight Japanese Tea Cultivars Chika Yagi, Namiko Ikeda, and Dwight Sato* n the 1970s, consumption quality attributes that Japa- of green tea (Camellia nese tea drinkers favored, sinensisI ) in Japan increased, including a novel green-tea following the high rate of taste characteristic known economic growth occur- as “umami.” Earlier or later ring in the country at the harvests of all other tea time. Because domestic tea cultivars in Japan became production was not meeting based on the harvest period consumer demand, tea was of ‘Yabukita’. imported from Taiwan, and Farmers increased field many tea farmers started to plantings of ‘Yabukita’, open new fields. At the same creating a single-cultivar time, labor shortages in the monoculture and, as a tea-growing areas were se- consequence, a marketing vere as a result of workers migrating to urban districts. To problem. Acceptable farm-gate tea pricing could be meet this challenge, mechanization of tea cultivation and maintained for only a short period because of sharp harvesting was developed and introduced to the growers. seasonal over-production in the domestic market. This The new mechanization demanded clonally propagated one-cultivar industry also led to prevalent and frequent cultivars that were high yielding and uniform in bud outbreaks of tea plant pest and diseases. In addition, the initiation and development. new tea cultivar required excessive amounts of fertilizer ‘Yabukita’ proved to be the most suitable variety, for optimal growth and brew quality, which increased with its vigorous upright branching and intense green- farm management and production costs. This high pro- tea flavor. The new and improved clonal tea propagation ductivity also contributed to delay of shoot maturation. technology expanded the planting of ‘Yabukita’ tremen- Therefore, growing too much ‘Yabukita’ was viewed dously over seed-produced plants, starting in Shizuoka as a detriment to market stability, and an interest in tea and then spreading to all of Japan’s tea-growing regions, cultivar diversification emerged. eventually accounting for three-quarters of all the tea In the 1980s, many excellent cultivars were developed cultivated in Japan. ‘Yabukita’ was high yielding and had and registered in Japan. Past selection criteria to screen tea cultivars included characteristics such as early harvest season, good taste quality, and high yield. The tea cul- *Chika Yagi is a graduate of the College of Agriculture, Forestry tivar development program aimed to extend the harvest and Natural Resource Management, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, season by cultivar diversification and by incorporating residing in Shizuoka, Japan; Namiko Ikeda is with the National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, Shizuoka, Japan; Dwight resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.), gray blight Sato is with the CTAHR Department of Plant and Environmental (Pestalotiopsis sp.), and a plant pest called the mulberry Protection Sciences at the Komohana Agricultural Research and scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona). It was perceived that Extension Complex, Hilo. if Japanese tea farmers grew a variety of cultivars, this Published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in co- operation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under the Director/Dean, Cooperative Extension Service/CTAHR, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822. The university is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution providing programs and services to the people of Hawai‘i without regard to race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a covered veteran. Find CTAHR publications at www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/freepubs. UH–CTAHR Characteristics of Eight Japanese Tea Cultivars F_N-15 — Aug. 2010 would increase and improve market stability, increase tea General types of Japanese tea beverage product lines, and increase use of tea in food, health, and cosmetic products. Currently, 52 cultivars are Sencha registered with the Japan Ministry of Agriculture and The most popular green tea consumed in Japan. It Forestry. ‘Yabukita’ is still the dominant cultivar grown is typically grown in full sun and is harvested in the and sold in Japan, but farmers are beginning to better spring. It is steam-processed and is prized for its in- select, utilize, and manage cultivar diversity based on their tense green color and ‘umami’ flavor. Sencha is made specific regional environments and market conditions. from 78 percent of the tea grown in Japan. The purpose of this publication is to provide back- Gyokuro ground information on selected tea cultivars from Japan and to explore some of the concepts of assessment and Known as the finest Japanese green tea, having a evaluation that Japanese researchers have employed in unique and sweet flavor. It is shaded for about 20 days characterizing tea cultivars. A simple hand-processing before harvest, which contributes to its deep green and brew-quality evaluation method was adopted as a color and sweetness. Only 0.3 percent of tea produced working protocol for preliminary screening of tea selec- in Japan is processed as gyokuro. tions. We advocate that the tea industry in Hawai‘i should Tencha develop a tea variety improvement program to select Shade-grown tea similar to gyokuro but processed appropriate tea cultivars in order to gain sustainability without rolling prior to drying. Tencha is the precur- and diversification. sor to matcha. It represents 1.1 percent of total tea production in Japan. ‘Yabukita’ Matcha ‘Yabukita’ was selected by Hikosaburo Sugiyama, a grower in Abe County, Shizuoka, in 1908. ‘Yabukita’ The powdered green tea used in tea ceremonies. has been popular and widely adaptable throughout Japan Summary: Japanese tea cultivar backgrounds and characteristics Cultivar: Yabukita Yutakamidori Benihikari Benihomare Year registered 1953 1966 1969 1953 Original cross location1 Abe, Shizuoka NIVTS NIVTS NIVTS Parents Seedling of native Asatsuyu seedling Benikaori x Cn 1 Seedling from Shizuoka species India variety Spring harvest April–mid-May Early Late Late Branching type Upright Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Vigor Medium High High Medium Yield High Medium-high Medium-high Low Brew quality Color High Medium Medium High Aroma High Medium High High Taste High Medium High High Cold resistance High Low Med (green tea), Medium high (black tea) Disease resistance Susceptible to High resistance High resistance High resistance anthracnose to anthracnose to anthracnose to anthracnose and gray blight and gray blight and gray blight 1NIVTS = National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science 2 UH–CTAHR Characteristics of Eight Japanese Tea Cultivars F_N-15 — Aug. 2010 because it proved to be have high yield and exceptional ‘Benihikari’ quality. It has an elegant aroma and a strong “umami” ‘Benihikari’ was developed in 1952 from a cross be- taste. Its major disadvantages are its susceptibility to the tween ‘Benikaori’ and Cn1 (a Chinese variety) at the fungal diseases anthracnose and gray blight. ‘Yabukita’ Makurazaki Black Tea Experiment Station (Kagoshima), is cultivated on 90,400 acres, which is 77 percent of the now known as the National Research Institute of Veg- total tea cultivation area in Japan. The major ‘Yabukita’ etables, Ornamental Plants and Tea. It was registered production regions (with the percentage of dominance by in 1969 as a tea variety with parentage from India, this cultivar) are Shizuoka (93%), Mie (84%), Fukuoka Japan, and China. Seasonal yields are good and disease (77%), Saitama (72%), Kyoto (62%), and Kagoshima resistance is high, but recovering for the next tea flush (40%). is longer. ‘Benihikari’ makes a high-quality black tea with a strong incense-like aroma. It is much too bitter ‘Yutakamidori’ to make it into green tea. ‘Yutakamidori’ was selected from a population of ‘Asatsuyu’ (gyokuro flavor) seedlings at the National ‘Benihomare’ Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science in Kanaya and ‘Benihomare’ was selected in 1953 from a seedling later registered in Kagoshima in 1966. This cultivar is population derived from a native India variety grown at second to ‘Yabukita’ in total field production area in the National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science in Japan, with 6148 acres. It is mainly grown in the Ka- Kanaya. It is usually harvested 2 weeks after ‘Yabukita’; goshima and Miyazaki regions. Harvest is 5 days earlier it has an intermediate branching pattern and strong resis- than ‘Yabukita’; it has good yields and high resistance to tance to anthracnose and gray blight. ‘Benihomare’ is the anthracnose. ‘Yutakamidori’ is shaded at 60 percent of best black tea cultivar in Japan, but yields are typically full sun for a week prior to harvest to soften its shoots, low. It produces a tea with a brilliant red color and strong intensify its green tea color, and reduce bitterness. It astringency. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application is can also be grown like gyokuro, but longer steaming is known to reduce its taste quality. recommended during the first processing step. Summary: Japanese tea cultivar backgrounds and characteristics (continued) Cultivar: Okuhikari Okumidori Tsuyuhikari Saemidori Year registered 1985 1974 2001 1990 Original cross location1 STES NIVTS STES NIVTS Parents