KIRARI31 Iri-Matcha 02 ChaYou

By ikí
Single-cultivar: Kirari31
unique processing for extra nutty and mild flavor
nutty, chestnuts, creamy and light, without astringency
Freshly milled by order, stored at 2°C in Germany
4.9from 391 product and gallery ratings
Regular price €27,00
Unit price€1,35/g
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Single-cultivar Matcha from Nagasaki, Japan

iki Iri-Matcha 02 Cha You is made from the modern cultivar Kirari 31 and processed using a special Iri-Mushi (roast-steam) method. The result is a gentle, well-balanced matcha where soft sweetness and umami meet a subtle roasted note from the Iri-Mushi processing. The roast character stays light and supportive, never overpowering the clarity of the base tea.

The ChaYou tea garden, run by the Matsuo family, sits on a small hill about 300 metres above sea level with a view over Omura Bay in Nagasaki. In this mild coastal climate, surrounded by rich vegetation, the family has been growing and processing tea since 1970.

Owner Masatoshi Matsuo works with a clear respect for tradition (organic fertilisation of the fields and classic wara-kake straw-shade for the tea bushes) while also exploring new ideas in processing. Over the past years ChaYou has attracted a lot of attention among Japanese tea drinkers and has received several awards, including the Emperor’s Cup in 2010.

Origin: Sonogi, Nagasaki, Japan

Cultivar: Kirari31

Shading: 21 days with direct shading

Harvest: May 2025, machine-harvested

Stone-Milled: September 2025 (refrigerated since then)

Taste: Nutty, Chestnuts, Creamy without astringency

FAQ

How fresh is this Matcha? Our Matcha is milled in Japan in small batches close to order and stored at 2 °C from the moment it arrives in Germany. We ship from our gallery in Munich.
How should I store Matcha? Unopened: cool, dark and dry, and the fridge is ideal. Once opened, keep the tin or pouch tightly closed and away from light, heat and moisture, and enjoy it within a few weeks for peak aroma.
How do I read the best-before date? Japanese producers usually print the best-before date in the Japanese order YY.MM.DD (year.month.day): a package marked 27.02.05 is best before 5 February 2027.
How do I prepare it? For Usucha: sift about 2 g, add 60–80 ml of water at around 80 °C and whisk in a rapid M motion until a fine foam forms. Product-specific ratios are in the description above.

Nagasaki

(Nagasaki, Japan)

Nagasaki Prefecture in western Kyushu is one of the smaller tea regions of Japan. Most of its tea comes from the Higashisonogi area, which is known for tamaryokucha, a curly-leaf green tea, and a few growers there also produce tencha and matcha.