There are many Japanese tea cultivars, although in reality only a few are extensively cultivated.
I’m sure that Japanese tea enthusiasts would like to know about all the ones that are available.
For this reason, I decided to list the registered cultivars.
Note that there are also non-registered cultivars being used in Japan, but I don’t know the reason why they aren’t registered. Maybe it takes a long time to do so?
Update: Information provided by Fumiki Kawaguchi from Shinkoju.
- Registering a cultivar is optional, so many cultivars are used without being registered. For example the Yutakamidori cultivar which in cultivated area ranks second, never went through the proper cultivation testing but many prefectures wanted it so it spread anyway.
- Some of them have failed the selection process in the past but as times changed they gained more attention, such as the Shizu-7132 cultivar.
- Other times, the cultivar is commercialized before the judgment for registration begins and hence it is disqualified, such as the Kouju cultivar. There are many reasons why a cultivar isn’t registered.
From what I understand, the process is now governed by the NARO (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization). However, in the past another organization was in charge.
There are actually two systems in which tea cultivars are registered. The first one is the Agriculture and Forestry Certified Cultivars (農林認定品種) under MAFF (農林水産省), and the Seed and Seedling Law Registered Cultivars (種苗法登録品種).
The first one was the original and has had changes along the way. The second one is more recent, and it takes into account that since it takes a long time (decades) for cultivars to be registered under the Agriculture and Forestry system, one can still apply this one to seedlings that are being raised and thus protect the intellectual property of the breeders.
Some cultivars are registered in both lists.
Agriculture and Forestry Certified Cultivars
The list covers cultivars since 1953, when cultivars were first registered in Japan. The last one is in 2017, which is believe is the most recent.
| Name | Year of registration | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Benihomare | 1953 | black tea |
| Asatsuyu | 1953 | sencha |
| Miyoshi | 1953 | sencha |
| Tamamidori | 1953 | tamaryokucha |
| Sayamamidori | 1953 | sencha |
| Yabukita | 1953 | sencha |
| Makinoharawase | 1953 | sencha |
| Koyanishi | 1953 | sencha |
| Rokurou | 1953 | sencha |
| Yamatomidori | 1953 | sencha |
| Takachiho | 1953 | kamairicha |
| Indo | 1953 | black tea |
| Hatsumomiji | 1953 | black tea |
| Benitachiwase | 1953 | black tea |
| Akane | 1953 | black tea |
| Natsumidori | 1954 | sencha |
| Yaeho | 1954 | sencha |
| Asagiri | 1954 | gyokuro |
| Kyoumidori | 1954 | gyokuro/tencha |
| Hatsumidori | 1954 | sencha |
| Benikaori | 1960 | black tea |
| Benifuji | 1960 | black tea |
| Himemidori | 1960 | gyokuro |
| Izumi | 1960 | kamairi tamaryokucha |
| Satsumabeni | 1960 | black tea |
| Okumusashi | 1962 | sencha |
| Yamanami | 1965 | kamairicha |
| Benihikari | 1969 | black tea |
| Unkai | 1969 | kamairicha |
| Kanayamidori | 1970 | sencha |
| Sayamakaori | 1971 | sencha |
| Okumidori | 1974 | sencha |
| Toyoka | 1976 | sencha |
| Okuyutaka | 1983 | sencha |
| Meiryoku | 1986 | sencha |
| Fukumidori | 1986 | sencha |
| Shunmei | 1988 | sencha |
| Minekaori | 1988 | kamairicha |
| Minamikaori | 1988 | sencha |
| Saemidori | 1990 | sencha |
| Fuushun | 1991 | sencha |
| Minamisayaka | 1991 | sencha |
| Hokumei | 1992 | sencha |
| Benifuuki | 1993 | black tea/oolong |
| Ryoufuu | 1997 | sencha |
| Musashikaori | 1997 | sencha |
| Sakimidori | 1997 | sencha |
| Harumidori | 2000 | sencha |
| Soufuu | 2002 | sencha/oolong |
| Sainomidori | 2003 | sencha |
| Harumoegi | 2003 | sencha |
| Miyamakaori | 2003 | sencha |
| Yumewakaba | 2006 | sencha |
| Yumekaori | 2006 | sencha |
| Shuntarou | 2009 | sencha |
| Sunrouge | 2009 | N/A |
| Saeakari | 2011 | gyokuro |
| Harunonagori | 2012 | sencha |
| Nagomiyutaka | 2012 | kamairicha/sencha |
| Nanmei | 2012 | sencha |
| Seimei | 2017 | sencha/tencha |
By the meaning of their names in Japanese, one can tell many things.
For example, the ones that have “midori” (green) are for green tea. On the other hand, cultivars meant for black tea have “beni” (red) in them. Remember that black tea is actually red tea in Japan.
Also, the cultivars with “oku” (interior) in their name are late budding, or banseishu (晩生種). Those with “wase” (early crop) are early budding cultivars. This is all relative to the Yabukita cultivar.
As you can see in the list, the popular Yabukita cultivar is very old, it was registered in 1953, along with 15 other cultivars.
Seed and Seedling Law Registered Cultivars
| Name | Year of registration |
|---|---|
| Hoshinomidori | 1981 |
| Okuyutaka | 1983 |
| Tsukasamidori | 1984 |
| Takanewase | 1985 |
| Satouwase | 1986 |
| Okuhikari | 1987 |
| Meiryoku | 1987 |
| Fukumidori | 1988 |
| Inaguchi | 1988 |
| Terakawawase | 1990 |
| Minekaori | 1990 |
| Minamikaori | 1990 |
| Shunmei | 1990 |
| Saemidori | 1991 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 1 | 1992 |
| Fuushun | 1993 |
| Minamisayaka | 1994 |
| Sawamizuka | 1995 |
| Benifuuki | 1995 |
| Hokumei | 1995 |
| Mineyutaka | 1996 |
| Shouju | 1996 |
| Marishi | 1996 |
| Mieryokuhou 1 | 1996 |
| Asanoka | 1996 |
| Fujikaori | 1996 |
| Yamanoibuki | 1997 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 2 | 1998 |
| Sagarahikari | 1998 |
| Sagaramidori | 1998 |
| Koushun | 2000 |
| Sagarakaori | 2000 |
| Sagarawase | 2000 |
| Sakimidori | 2001 |
| Ryoufuu | 2001 |
| Midorinohoshi | 2001 |
| Musashikaori | 2001 |
| Ryokufuu | 2002 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 3 | 2002 |
| Narino | 2002 |
| Okunoyama | 2002 |
| Harumidori | 2003 |
| Tsuyuhikari | 2003 |
| Mieuejima | 2003 |
| Soufuu | 2005 |
| Sainomidori | 2006 |
| Miyamakaori | 2006 |
| Harumoegi | 2006 |
| Kiraka | 2006 |
| Houshun | 2006 |
| Tenmyou | 2006 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 6 | 2008 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 5 | 2008 |
| Chachuukanbohonnou 4 | 2008 |
| Hourainishiki | 2008 |
| Yumewakaba | 2008 |
| Yumekaori | 2009 |
| Kanayaibuki | 2009 |
| Kanayahomare | 2009 |
| Shuntarou | 2011 |
| Sunrouge | 2011 |
| Harunonagori | 2012 |
| Yumesuruga | 2012 |
| Saeakari | 2012 |
| Nagomiyutaka | 2012 |
| Kibounome | 2013 |
| Nanmei | 2014 |
| Shizukaori | 2015 |
| Okuharuka | 2015 |
| Mantennokagayaki | 2015 |
| Kirari 31 | 2016 |
Unregistered Japanese Tea Cultivars
| Name |
|---|
| Houryoku |
| Surugawase |
| Fujimidori |
| Kuritawase |
| Yutakamidori |
| Yamakai |
| Kurasawa |
| Ooiwase |
| Gokou |
| Ujihikari |
| Asahi |
| Komakage |
| Samidori |
| Oguramidori |
| Ujimidori |
| Karabeni |
| Tadanishiki |
| Benitsukuba |
| Misaki |
| Shizu-7132 |
Updated: Mar 2023
Sources:
http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/patent/breed/0200/0206/index.html
October 20, 2013
Wow! What an impressive list, that you’ve compiled there. A japanese tea fanatic like me enjoys exactly that!
October 20, 2013
Thank you Lars, I hope that you find it useful.
February 7, 2014
Really interesting.
Isn’t Yume Wakaba ゆめわかば already registered as a cultivar? Maybe you missed that. I think it was registered as ‘Norin No.53’ and named ‘Yumewakaba’ in 2006.
Lochan
Jun Chiyabari Tea Garden
Nepal
February 7, 2014
Hi Lochan
You’re absolutely right, I’m missing Yume Wakaba and probably some more cultivars!
I’ll do more research and update it as soon as I can, thank you for noticing : )
February 7, 2014
The cultivar list is now updated, last teas are from 2012.
February 8, 2014
Hi Ricardo,
Last year I went to the tea research station in Kikugawa, Shizuoka. They gave me an official chart of the clones. It is in Japanese though. I scanned it and made it into a pdf file. I can send that to you if you want. It may help you. Send me your mail address if you would like it.
February 9, 2014
Hello Lochan
That would be very helpful, thanks!
I’m sending you an email right now.
October 11, 2024
Hi Ricardo……Is there such a cultivar as Saemiita? I have a tea that says so…..if I’m not translating it correctly Thanks
October 17, 2024
Hi Ken
No, I haven’t heard of that one.
March 28, 2014
Excellent work Richard. Where can I obtain reliable cultivars in the Eastern United States? I live in the notheast but would like to obtain 4 or so that I will keep in large containers on a deck and bring inside in the winter time.
Your friend in delight of tea
Paul
March 28, 2014
Hello Paul
I’m not really sure, but have you tried contacting the US League of Tea Growers?
http://usgrowntea.wordpress.com/
December 23, 2015
Hi Ricardo, what an epic list! There’s some really good information here 🙂
I found 5 of the 6 varieties we have here on our tea farm in Australia. If you know anything about our sixth – Yutakamidori – I’d be very keen to hear it.
Thanks for all of your effort !
December 23, 2015
Hello Brendon
Thanks for the comment. It’s interesting that you have so many Japanese tea cultivars in your tea farm.
As you can see Yutakamidori isn’t on the list. This is because it was never registered, although this cultivar is fairly popular.
What I can tell you is that it can be harvested 5 days earlier than Yabukita, and it is suited for warm weather. That’s why it is mainly found in Kagoshima prefecture.
September 23, 2017
Hi, Ricardo! Yutakamidori is the second cultivar after yabukita (more than 5% of total Japanese tea production). It`s very popular in Kagoshima. It was registered in 1966 so it must be on your cultivar list.
September 23, 2017
Hi Alexander
If it’s registered, it must be in some other list.
The list on this page isn’t mine, I translated it from the official one made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.
September 23, 2017
Very weird indeed. Looks like the name of Yutakamidori cultivar was registered in 1966 but the cultivar itself is not registered yet. I will check it out!
June 29, 2016
Hello Ricardo and thanks for a great site!
I’ve heard of a new cultivar registered in 2015, okuharuka (sencha). The leaves of oharuka have a perfume like that of sakura leaves – or it seems so, I haven’t yet tried it. Maybe it could be joined to your great list too..
June 29, 2016
Dear Valeria
Thanks for reading my blog.
The cultivar that you say exists, you can buy a tea made with it if you search for it online.
However, I looked at http://agriknowledge.affrc.go.jp/ and it isn’t listed yet. Sometimes it takes many years, and sometimes they aren’t listed at all but they are still used.
From what I looked online, it submitted and application in 2013.
As you say, it has the aroma of sakura leaves. Unfortunately I haven’t tried it either.
June 30, 2016
Thanks, Ricardo! It seems I got the wrong information about its being already registered. Good to know, and thanks for the useful link!
I’ve been reading your site with great pleasure and sincerily admire your work!
By the way, I would be very interesting to know more about your experience at 日本茶インストラクタ教会. Maybe you have already wrote an article about it? I can’t find…
June 30, 2016
Hi Valeria
I haven’t written about that yet, but give me a few weeks and I will.
If you want to take the course and need more info now, feel free to email me.
July 5, 2016
Hello. Thank you for such an interesting site. I am only just getting into learning more about Nihoncha, even though I have been actively drinking Japanese tea for around 3 years now. Your site has been helpful. 🙂
Do you have any info on Samidori, a cultivar that is said to originate from Kyoto?
Thanks.
July 5, 2016
Hi Mei, thanks for commenting.
Actually there’s not much info online about Samidori. It’s a cultivar best used in shaded teas such as matcha and gyokuro, in that respect it’s similar to Gokou, Asahi, and Ujihikari. They are all from Kyoto, but for some reason they aren’t registered. However, they are relatively popular in representing tea from Uji.
Samidori is reasonably resistant to cold weather, a bit weak against the grey blight and the white peach scale. It also has medium resistance to anthracnose.
Yield at harvest is a little low.
Not to be confused with Saemidori.
July 8, 2016
There are just so many unregistered, but popular, cultivars. Or maybe there is an update to the list since 2012 but not released to the public. Well, just maybe. ^^;
December 8, 2016
Hi Ricardo,
Do you have any information on the Kyoto cultivars, Gokou and Asahi now? I think Mei also requested for this earlier.
I have some information on Samidori and would be happy to share it with you by mail.
December 8, 2016
Hi Lochan
If you have information on any cultivar I would be glad to receive it.
I’ll get working on the cultivars again, so I might get one published soon.
October 10, 2018
Hi everyone, Which cultivars are neon green for matcha?
October 10, 2018
Hi Jonandre
It’s not only the cultivar. A better color is achieved through many factors, for example quality of harvest, quality of shading method, quality of processing, etc. For example, if it’s from later harvests of the year, the color is impacted immediately.
You can have different grades of matcha from the same farm using the same cultivar.
March 13, 2019
I really appreciate you putting this list together and updating it over the years, Ricardo. I have referenced it quite a few times.
Do you have nay plans to cover the popular unregistered cultivars in a similar fashion? It appears you are quite familiar with a few already.
March 13, 2019
Hi Noli
Nice to see you in the comments again.
Sure, I will cover the unregistered cultivars too, but first I want to complete the first list.
It takes time, because I mix things up so that the posts aren’t about cultivars every time.
March 21, 2019
I totally understand that. But maybe you can make a list of unregistered cultivars, even if you don’t have articles to showcase all the unregistered cultivars yet. I think the list alone would be a great resource. Thanks for all the work you’ve done 🙂
March 21, 2019
Hi Noli
You’re right, at least I should have the list. I will be working on that.
September 22, 2019
You should also add Misaki to not registred, is made by Yoshida Chaen in Ibaraki.
They make Izumi(Green, Black), Yabukita(Green Black), Misaki(Green), Hokumei(Green), Harumidori(Green)
September 22, 2019
Thanks, I looked it up and it’s on the list now.
https://www.yoshida-chaen.com/商品紹介/品種茶/
November 15, 2019
Tea made by Yoshida Chaen from Izumi culitvar is really something. I had it few weeks ago in Tokyo at a tea festival. My friend told me later that it got sold out quickly.
You should also do some research on Sofu. That is getting more and more popular with tea connoisseurs in Japan and perhaps it will catch on elsewhere soon.
November 15, 2019
Hi Lochan.
Wished I could have been at that festival.
I do have a post about soufuu:
https://www.myjapanesegreentea.com/soufuu