Saemidori Cultivar Matcha

Saemidori is a modern cultivar known for vivid green color and a sweeter, lighter umami than the older Uji varieties.

Saemidori was registered in 1990 by the Kagoshima Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station, bred as a cross of Yabukita and Asatsuyu. It was developed for the warmer Kyushu climate and is now widely grown in Kagoshima and parts of Shizuoka.

The cultivar is prized visually. Saemidori matcha has a bright, almost neon green color compared to the deeper jade of Samidori or Asahi. The flavor is correspondingly lighter: gentle umami, slight sweetness, a refreshing finish without heavy density.

Saemidori works particularly well in lattes, where the bright color carries through the milk. A useful counterpoint to traditional Uji cultivars.