Samidori Cultivar Matcha

Samidori is an older Japanese tea cultivar and a long-running staple for ceremonial-grade Uji matcha.

Samidori was developed at the Kyoto Prefectural Tea Research Institute and registered in 1953 as a cross of Yabukita and Sayama-Midori. It was bred specifically for tencha (the leaf used to make matcha) and was adopted quickly in Uji because of its refined umami and tolerance for heavy shading.

On the cup, Samidori produces a balanced, savory matcha. Strong umami, a soft mid-palate, a long clean finish. The leaf yields a deep jade green when stone-ground. Several of the highest-grade Uji matchas in our database list Samidori as a single cultivar or as the dominant component in a blend.

For a first read on what classical Uji ceremonial matcha tastes like, Samidori is a sensible baseline.

Cultivar: Samidori
Powders in database: 40

Top Matcha Made with Samidori

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Tengoku

Nevaeh Tea Co. · Kyoto

MS Rating

9.0 / 10

Community

—

Price

$1.20/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Todou Mukashi

Horii Shichimeien · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

8.5 / 10

Community

—

Price

$1.02/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Samidori

Yamamasa Koyamaen · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.83/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Seasonal Joyo No. 3

Hatoya · Joyo, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.90/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Shiranami Ceremonial Blend

Rocky's Matcha · Kagoshima

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.00/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Sakata Matabei · Kumiyama, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.34/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Gekkou

Nevaeh Tea Co. · Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.07/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Organic Ceremonial Matcha - Teahouse Edition

Jade Leaf · Uji & Kagoshima

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.90/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Ato-Mukashi

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.50/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Premium Kaoru

Hatoya · Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.90/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Premium Zen

Hatoya · Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.55/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Roasted Matcha Ichi

Hatoya · Joyo & Wazuka, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.75/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Roasted Matcha Ni

Hatoya · Joyo, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.40/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Kiku-no-Sono

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.30/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Shōyō

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.83/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Uji Samidori

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$4.20/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Uta-no-Mori

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.47/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Gokasho Organic Samidori

Kettl · Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$4.25/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Chiyō-Mukashi

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.10/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Hatsu-Mukashi

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.80/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Kotobuki

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.90/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Mill City Blend

River & Stone Tea · Wazuka, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.00/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Single Cultivar Samidori

Chazoku · Kagoshima

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.85/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Samidori

River & Stone Tea · Wazuka, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.25/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Hinode Organic Matcha

Mizuba Tea Co. · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.50/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Samidori Matcha

Mizuba Tea Co. · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.57/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Kokoro Ceremonial Matcha

Mizuba Tea Co. · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.40/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Samidori

Sakata Matabei · Kumiyama, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.67/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Mare

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$2.40/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Zenkyu Signature Blend Matcha

Zenkyu · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.22/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Kansha Matcha

Astrid Tea · Kyotanabe, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.67/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Shirakawa Samidori

Tezumi · Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$4.20/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Samidori Limited Reserve Matcha

FKRO · Sonogi, Nagasaki

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.13/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Horii Shichimeien Ceremonial Blend

Rocky's Matcha · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.40/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Kyō-no-Homare

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$4.20/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Matcha Ichi

Hatoya · Ujitawara, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.65/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Shirakawa Samidori

Kettl · Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$4.00/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Uji-no-Mori

Tezumi · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$1.40/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Uji Latte Blend Matcha

Zenkyu · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

—

Price

$0.61/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Tsujiki Ceremonial Blend

Rocky's Matcha · Uji, Kyoto

MS Rating

—

Community

8.8 / 10(2)

Price

$1.80/g

Umami

Sweet

Bitter

Astringent

Name	Brand	Origin	MS Rating	Community Rating	Price Prices listed are from the brand's official website, if it exists, which is typically the lowest. If the brand doesn't have a website selling directly to the public, we show the lowest price from a trusted vendor.	Flavor Profile
Tengoku	Nevaeh Tea Co.	Kyoto	9.0 / 10	—	$1.20/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Todou Mukashi	Horii Shichimeien	Uji, Kyoto	8.5 / 10	—	$1.02/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Samidori	Yamamasa Koyamaen	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$0.83/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Seasonal Joyo No. 3	Hatoya	Joyo, Kyoto	—	—	$1.90/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Shiranami Ceremonial Blend	Rocky's Matcha	Kagoshima	—	—	$1.00/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
64	Sakata Matabei	Kumiyama, Kyoto	—	—	$2.34/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Gekkou	Nevaeh Tea Co.	Kyoto	—	—	$1.07/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2.5/5
Organic Ceremonial Matcha - Teahouse Edition	Jade Leaf	Uji & Kagoshima	—	—	$0.90/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Ato-Mukashi	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.50/g	Umami: 3.5/5 Sweet: 3.5/5 Bitter: 1.5/5 Astringent: 1.5/5
Premium Kaoru	Hatoya	Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.90/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Premium Zen	Hatoya	Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.55/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 4/5 Astringent: 3/5
Roasted Matcha Ichi	Hatoya	Joyo & Wazuka, Kyoto	—	—	$0.75/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Roasted Matcha Ni	Hatoya	Joyo, Kyoto	—	—	$1.40/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Kiku-no-Sono	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.30/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3.5/5 Bitter: 1.5/5 Astringent: 1.5/5
Shōyō	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.83/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 4.5/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Uji Samidori	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$4.20/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 4.5/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Uta-no-Mori	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.47/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 4.5/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Gokasho Organic Samidori	Kettl	Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$4.25/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Chiyō-Mukashi	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.10/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 3.5/5 Bitter: 1.5/5 Astringent: 1.5/5
Hatsu-Mukashi	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.80/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3.5/5 Bitter: 1.5/5 Astringent: 1.5/5
Kotobuki	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.90/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Mill City Blend	River & Stone Tea	Wazuka, Kyoto	—	—	$2.00/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Single Cultivar Samidori	Chazoku	Kagoshima	—	—	$0.85/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Samidori	River & Stone Tea	Wazuka, Kyoto	—	—	$2.25/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Hinode Organic Matcha	Mizuba Tea Co.	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.50/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Samidori Matcha	Mizuba Tea Co.	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.57/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Kokoro Ceremonial Matcha	Mizuba Tea Co.	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.40/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Samidori	Sakata Matabei	Kumiyama, Kyoto	—	—	$1.67/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Mare	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$2.40/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Zenkyu Signature Blend Matcha	Zenkyu	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.22/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 1/5
Kansha Matcha	Astrid Tea	Kyotanabe, Kyoto	—	—	$1.67/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Shirakawa Samidori	Tezumi	Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$4.20/g	Umami: 4.5/5 Sweet: 4.5/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Samidori Limited Reserve Matcha	FKRO	Sonogi, Nagasaki	—	—	$1.13/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 2/5
Horii Shichimeien Ceremonial Blend	Rocky's Matcha	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.40/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Kyō-no-Homare	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$4.20/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5
Matcha Ichi	Hatoya	Ujitawara, Kyoto	—	—	$0.65/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Shirakawa Samidori	Kettl	Shirakawa, Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$4.00/g	Umami: 5/5 Sweet: 2/5 Bitter: 2/5 Astringent: 2/5
Uji-no-Mori	Tezumi	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$1.40/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3.5/5 Bitter: 1.5/5 Astringent: 2/5
Uji Latte Blend Matcha	Zenkyu	Uji, Kyoto	—	—	$0.61/g	Umami: 3/5 Sweet: 3/5 Bitter: 3/5 Astringent: 2/5
Tsujiki Ceremonial Blend	Rocky's Matcha	Uji, Kyoto	—	8.8 / 10(2)	$1.80/g	Umami: 4/5 Sweet: 4/5 Bitter: 1/5 Astringent: 1/5