by Iwai Seicha株式会社磐井製茶
Kabusecha (かぶせ茶, 'covered tea') from Iwai Seicha sits between gyokuro and sencha in shade intensity — the tea plants are covered for 7 to 10 days before harvest, compared to the 3–4 weeks of gyokuro. This partial shading yields a tea with pronounced umami and a fresh, grassy sweetness that is gentler than gyokuro but more complex than standard sencha. Brewed at 70°C, the liquor is vibrant green with a smooth, clean finish. Kabusecha is a specialty of the Yame region and makes an excellent introduction to the shade-grown tea world for those exploring Japanese tea beyond sencha.
Editorial verdict
An accessible entry to Yame shade-grown teas: more umami and depth than sencha, easier to brew than gyokuro. Ideal for daily drinking.
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Other blends from Yame
Supports: Semi-shaded kabusecha, umami and aromatic, brew at 70°C
About the brand
株式会社磐井製茶
Iwai Seicha (株式会社磐井製茶) is a tea producer based in Iwasaki, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture, founded in 1974. The company specializes in premium shade-grown teas from the Yame region — Japan's foremost gyokuro-producing area, which has taken the regional prize at the National Tea Quality Evaluation Conference for over 22 consecutive years. Operating with fully integrated production — from crude tea finishing and processing through temperature-controlled storage — Iwai Seicha maintains strict quality control by keeping all stages under one roof. Their signature product is Yame Gyokuro 'Asagiri' (朝霧, 'morning mist'), a high-grade hand-shaded gyokuro prized for its concentrated umami and distinctive cover aroma. The company motto is 'a symphony of taste and aroma' (味と香りのシンフォニー), reflecting a commitment to delivering complex, layered flavor profiles rooted in Yame's terroir. While primarily known for gyokuro, they also produce kabusecha, deep-steamed sencha, and karigane (stem tea).
View all Iwai Seicha blendsIwai Yame Kabusecha is sourced from Yame, Japan.
Iwai Yame Kabusecha is recommended for usucha. Thin tea — the standard way to prepare matcha, whisked with about 2g of powder and 70ml of water.
Iwai Yame Kabusecha uses the Yabukita cultivar.
Iwai Seicha Iwai Yame Kabusecha is available through Iwai Seicha's official website. Current availability: in-stock.