Tea Cultivar · Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Asanoka
- Origin
- Japan - Kagoshima
- Registered
- 1996
- Primary use
- sencha, kamairicha
Overview
Asanoka - literally 'morning fragrance' - is a Japanese cultivar bred at the Kagoshima Prefectural Tea Experiment Station and registered with MAFF in 1996. Despite its southern origin, it has proven unusually cold-hardy and has been adopted as a flagship cultivar in the comparatively cool tea regions of Kanto, Saitama (Sayama), and even southern Tohoku where Yabukita struggles. Its name reflects the cultivar's exceptional finished-tea aroma, which is among the most floral of any registered Japanese cultivar.
Characteristics
Asanoka bud break is medium-early, roughly three to five days after Yabukita in central Honshu. Leaves are medium-sized, glossy, and a slightly bluish-green; the bushes are vigorous and recover well from heavy pruning. The cultivar is notably resistant to anthracnose and shows good tolerance to cold-induced bud damage in late spring frosts.
Flavor profile
The signature trait is intense floral aroma - jasmine, lilac, and orchid notes that develop especially in lightly steamed (asamushi) and pan-fired (kamairi) preparations. Body is medium, umami is moderate, and the cultivar's bright herbaceous sweetness and clean finish make it a favorite blending component for raising the aroma profile of Yabukita-dominant lots.
Where it grows
Japan - Kagoshima · Japan - Saitama (Sayama) · Japan - Miyazaki