Sourced directly from Yame, Fukuoka — renowned for gyokuro-style cultivation, deep umami, and a distinctively nutty, smooth character found nowhere else in Japan.
Yame is one of Japan's most respected gyokuro-producing regions. The same deep shading technique applied to gyokuro — covering the tea plants for several weeks before harvest — is used for Yame matcha, maximizing L-theanine content and producing the region's signature rich umami and gentle sweetness.
Yame matcha is known for a distinctly nutty, smooth umami — richer and more full-bodied than many other regions. The cup is vivid jade-green with minimal bitterness and a clean, lingering sweetness. A flavor profile that works beautifully both in traditional whisked preparation and milk-based drinks.
Both are premium Japanese matcha. The difference is in character and style.
Gyokuro-style cultivation produces a distinctly nutty, full-bodied umami with strong sweetness and very low bitterness. Vivid jade-green color. A bold, expressive flavor — particularly popular for matcha lattes, where its character stands out even with milk.
Refined, layered umami with elegant aroma and a smooth, clean finish. The benchmark for traditional ceremonial matcha in Japan. More subtle and structured than Yame — prized for its balance and depth in traditional whisked preparation.
Both are single-cultivar Yame matcha from the same producer. Kirari is more vivid and expressive; Saemidori is smoother and more balanced.
We source directly from producers in Yame, Fukuoka. Every product ships from Japan.
Choose based on how you use it and what flavor you prefer.
Yame (八女), located in Fukuoka Prefecture in southern Japan, is one of the country's most prestigious tea-producing regions — best known as the home of Japan's finest gyokuro. The same meticulous shading technique that defines Yame gyokuro is applied to Yame matcha: tea plants are covered for several weeks before harvest, blocking sunlight and triggering a surge in L-theanine and chlorophyll. The result is matcha with exceptionally deep umami, vivid green color, and very low bitterness.
What sets Yame matcha apart from other Japanese matcha is its distinctly nutty, full-bodied character. While Uji matcha is prized for refined elegance and layered complexity, Yame matcha is bolder and more expressive — a profile that has made it especially popular internationally, particularly for matcha lattes where its flavor stands out clearly against milk.
At MatchaJP, all Yame matcha is sourced directly from producers in Yame and Hoshino, Fukuoka, and shipped from Japan. Our range includes Hoshino Seichaen (Hoshinoen) ceremonial grades, TSUJIRI's Yame lineup, and our own MatchaJP Selection single-cultivar matcha — Saemidori and Kirari 31.
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