Benihikari 2nd Flush Black Tea from Kumaen

Kumaen produces some of Japan's most celebrated gyokuro, but their black teas show what happens when that same passion, talent, and hard work gets applied to full oxidation. This Benihikari is well-oxidized and complex, offering malty depth balanced by smooth sweetness and pastry notes. The flavors are deep and satisfying, with a character that's smooth without being delicate. It works equally well as a morning cup or an afternoon break.

Benihikari was developed in the 1960s specifically as a black tea cultivar, bred from Indian, Chinese, and Japanese tea plants. That mixed heritage comes through in the cup, where you get structural depth alongside the clean, precise character typical of Japanese tea production. The cultivar's breeding prioritized flavor complexity over the floral delicacy found in many Japanese blacks, and it shows.

Harvested May 16, 2025. Pesticide free.