Nanmei is one of the newest cultivars in Japan, only released in 2012 and registered in 2014

by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan. It is a cross between Sayama Kaori and Makurazaki 13 (first created in 1992), and is the first tea cultivar in the world to be developed using DNA marker-assisted selection (note: not DNA-modification, but identifying characteristics in the DNA of the cultivars chosen to be parents), which was used to select the gene, MSR1, to confer resistance to white peach scale disease (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni)).

Nanmei is an early sprouting cultivar (10 days earlier than Yabukita, and 6 days earlier for crop harvest). The researchers believe it is best suited for warmer climates in Southern Japan like that of Tanegashima Island. The cultivar tends to produce better yield and tea quality than Yabukita.

Source: "'Nanmei’, a New Early-Budding Green Tea Cultivar Resistant to Multiple-Pests, and Suitable for Warm Regions" (

Bulletin of the NARO, Fruit Tree and Tea Science)

Product Info

Ingredients: Green tea
Harvest: April
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.