SO MATCHA ZAIRAI HYAKUNENJU（ざいらい 百年樹）Traditional · Single Origin

ZAIRAI HYAKUNENJU, meaning “a hundred-year-old tree,” represents a rare expression of Japan’s heirloom tea tradition, shaped by generations of seed-grown tea trees preserved for more than a century.

From a historic tea garden in Kyoto, these traditional Zairai trees have remained rooted in the same soil for generations, without replacing the original plants. Grown from seed rather than propagated by cuttings, each tree develops its own natural character, creating a diverse field with remarkable depth and complexity.

Deep-rooted and shaped by the land over generations, the trees produce tea with layered aromatics, firm yet elegant bitterness, and profound umami. Rather than following a single, uniform flavour profile, the tea unfolds gradually, revealing subtle variations across the palate.

Carefully rested at low temperature to refine its texture and fragrance, the matcha preserves the distinctive character of this century-old tea garden while allowing greater clarity and harmony to emerge.

The palate opens with deep, earthy-green aromatics before developing into mineral depth, structured bitterness, and a long, resonant umami. Its texture is smooth and substantial, with a lingering finish that remains quietly expressive long after the final sip.

Complex, mature, and deeply rooted in its terroir, ZAIRAI HYAKUNENJU is a rare expression of time, land, and genetic diversity — a living piece of Japan’s tea heritage.

Grade: Traditional · Single Origin · Heirloom Zairai

Origin: Kyoto, Japan

Cultivation: Seed-Grown · Century-Old Tea Trees

Cultivar: Zairai

Harvest: First Harvest (Ichibancha)

Taste Notes: Mineral · Woody · Deep Umami · Refined Bitterness

Character: Complex · Mature · Layered · Terroir-Driven

Processing: Traditional Zairai · Low-Temperature Resting · Stone-Milled

Preparation: Usucha · Koicha

Net Weight: 20g