The Harunonagori Tea Cultivar

Harunonagori (はるのなごり) is a late budding cultivar that can be used for sencha and oolong production.

The name can be literally translated as the sorrow of the passing of spring.

History of Harunonagori

In 1986 at the tea branch of the Miyazaki prefecture agriculture research center, a cultivar named Saitama #1 (埼玉１号) was crossed with Miyazaki #8 (宮崎８号).

Saitama #1 is a late budding cultivar with a high yield, and it’s the descendant of Saitama G1-7 (which comes from Yabukita), and Sayamamidori.

Miyazaki #8 is a cultivar of good quality that’s resistant to anthracnose. It comes from Chamoto F1NN27, which is a cross of the Yabukita cultivar and Shizuoka Zairai #16.

The other cultivar used in Miyazaki #8 is Miya A6, a result of Takachiho and a hybrid of Indian and Russian tea cultivars called Miya F19-4-48.

After passing tests in 1991 and 1998, it was registered in 2012 as Harunonagori.

Characteristics of Harunonagori

Harunogari can be picked 3 days later than Yabukita, and it has a higher yield at harvest.

It fares well in cold weather.

In addition, it has a strong resistance to anthracnose and a good resistance to the gray blight.

However, it only has a medium resistance against the blister blight and the white peach scale.

As a sencha, Harunagori is judged as having a quality equal to Yabukita.

It has a refreshing and vegetal aroma, as well as a fresh taste with a strong umami taste.

Since it’s a late budding cultivar, it can be cultivated in every region of Japan.