Nishi-san's Matcha Saemidori

Name: Nishi-san's Matcha Saemidori
Brand: Rishi Tea
Price: 38 USD

sourced from Kagoshima, Saemidori cultivar

SweetUmamiFruityCreamySmoothRich

$38.00 (30g)

~$1.27 per gram

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Cultivar

Saemidori

Region

Kagoshima

Certification

Organic

Sourcing

Kagoshima, Japan

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Tasting notes

Fresh, lively and bright; exquisitely balanced; rich, harmonious aroma; vibrant freshness balanced with rich umami and smooth, creamy mouthfeel; unique fruity melon aroma with a sweet finish

Pricing as disclosed

30g — $38.00

Full details

Everything disclosed on the product page (18 fields)▾

Classification: Garden Direct organic green tea powder; single-cultivar micro-lot
Size Price Variants: [ "30 Grams: price not rendered in extraction; not confirmed via follow-up search" ]
Cultivar: Saemidori 冴緑; typically the first cultivar harvested in spring; name references the vivid, brilliant green color of its leaves/new shoots
Region Origin: Nishi-san's Garden, Kirishima Mountain, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan (active volcano on Kyushu Island); densely forested area providing a natural buffer zone protecting the gardens from industrial pollution
Elevation: 200 meters
Harvest Details: Harvest date April 30, 2025; first flush (spring harvest); emphasizes 'first flush vibrancy'
Certifications: Organic (USDA certified, per organic badge); Garden Direct certification
Tasting Notes: Fresh, lively and bright; exquisitely balanced; rich, harmonious aroma; vibrant freshness balanced with rich umami and smooth, creamy mouthfeel; unique fruity melon aroma with a sweet finish
Ingredients: 100% organic green tea
Brewing Instructions: Traditional: sift 1 tsp (2g) into chawan, add 2.5 oz (75mL) water at 170°F (75°C), whisk 15 seconds with chasen into smooth, rich foam
Producer: Nishi family; renowned throughout Japan as pioneers of organic green tea cultivation; partnership with Rishi since 2006; grows more than a dozen cultivars; gardens secluded in pine and cedar forests
Caffeine: Not disclosed
Nutritional Info: Not provided
Awards: None mentioned
Shelf Life Storage: Not specified
Packaging: 30-gram container with Garden Direct badge branding
Reviews: { "overall_rating": "3.5 / 5", "total_reviews": 6, "recommend_pct": "67%", "breakdown": { "5_star": 3, "4_star": 1, "3_star": 0, "2_star": 0, "1_star": 2 }, "notable_quotes_positive": [ "literally want to gatekeep...amazing taste! (Alyssa R.)", "Heavenly and Delicious!!...gorgeous, bright green cup (Amber K.)", "leagues better than any matcha I've tried before (Jonathan T.)" ], "notable_quotes_negative": [ "dark green/brown in color...terrrible...couldn't finish it (Belinda D.)", "Didn't like (Janet W.)" ] }
Related Teaware Upsell: [ "Wabi Sabi Raku Matcha Bowl ($60.50)", "Premium Shin Chasen ($78.00)", "Chashaku Bamboo Matcha Scoop ($22.50)" ]

Research notes

Notably lower and more polarized rating (3.5/5, 67% recommend, two 1-star reviews) than the other Nishi-san single-cultivar matchas on the site, with a negative review specifically describing off color (dark green/brown rather than vivid green). Price could not be confirmed. Also noted: a related but distinct listing exists on the site, 'Nishi-san's First Flush Matcha Saemidori', which may be a newer/different SKU for a more recent (2025) crop of the same cultivar — not confused with this product but worth flagging as a similarly-named adjacent product.