Ikigaicha Dentō Hon Gyokuro represents the absolute pinnacle of Japanese green tea craftsmanship. It has been crowned Grand Prix Winner – Paris Awards 2026, and designated World’s Best Green Tea at the Leafies London Awards for multiple consecutive years, including 2026 — an extraordinary international recognition of its precision, terroir, and mastery.

Dentō Hon Gyokuro (伝統本玉露) — “Heritage True Gyokuro” — is a protected Geographic Indication reserved exclusively for teas produced under the strict traditional honzu method. This includes natural rice-straw shading structures constructed over the tea gardens for approximately 24 days prior to harvest — a rare, labor-intensive technique that elevates amino acid concentration while refining polyphenolic structure.

Produced from 100% Saemidori cultivar and grown in the mountainous microclimate of Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, this tea is hand-picked and processed in micro-batches to preserve structural purity and aromatic precision. Production remains extremely limited.

Dentō Hon Gyokuro Saemidori is not simply premium gyokuro. It is a rare cultural artifact of Yame’s heritage — a tea to be contemplated slowly, served with intention, and respected as one of the highest expressions of Japanese green tea in the world.

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