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One of the first (if not THE first) harvest of the season! Shoju is a rare cultivar grown by Tanegashima Island tea farmer Iba Takahiro, shaded for about 10 days, and harvested in the third week of March making it one of the earliest teas harvested in Japan. As such, Iba-san is interviewed by TV crews every year! 2024’s harvest was the second earliest in history on March 18 (2010 was the earliest at March 16). Iba-san says he determines the harvest by determine the start of shading after the second leaf bud appears, and decided to harvest around the 4th leaf bud appearance then harvesting a bud and 3-4 young, tender leaves. He pays careful attention to the leaf growth at this time of the year to determine the perfect timing. Total crop yield in 2025 was only 25kg! Product Info Ingredients: Green tea Cultivar: Shoju 松寿 Harvest: Mid to Late March Shading: Approximately 10 days Region: Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Steaming: Regular About Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture Tanegashima Island is a small Japanese island located in the southwestern region of the country, known for its rich history and natural beauty. The island is renowned for being the site of Japan's first contact with firearms and Western culture, as well as being a launch site for rockets and space exploration. With its stunning beaches, lush forests, and diverse wildlife, Tanegashima Island has become a popular destination for tourists seeking a unique and unforgettable experience in Japan. Because if it’s southern latitude, tea fields on the island are some of the earliest to be harvested in Japan, with the first harvest occurring at the end of March.