An in-depth exploration of single-estate Japanese green tea with Oscar Brekell — from cultivars to century-old Zairai plants and beyond.

• a guided tasting journey through single-estate Sencha
  • Zairai from 100-year-old tea plants
  • Shincha + aged Sencha
  • cultivar flight: Yabukita, Assamica hybrid, Okuyutaka
  • new Zairai (planted 2019)

Part of the opening weekend of TOKONAME — Japanese Teapot Exhibition

📍 UNEARTHED Gallery
📅 Sunday June 14th, 13:00 – 16:00

Language: English (German interpretation available)

After a slow start a few decades ago, the single estate tea movement is finally gaining ground in Japan. Though still unfamiliar to many tea lovers both in Japan and overseas, single estate green tea certainly offer the most inspiring and surprising taste experiences in the genre. In this masterclass we will thoroughly explore this intriguing field, and also explain the background behind the great variety of flavor experiences. While serving different samples of single estate Sencha, we will go through everything from tea plant cultivars to terroir and, most importantly, the long traditions and new bold initiatives that make the cultivation and processing of these wonderful teas possible.

With the focus on Zairai (seed-propagated) tea from hundred-year old tea plants, as well as Shincha and aged sencha will be introduced during this unique session. Different, and likely surprising, ways of brewing and enjoying Japanese teas will also be introduced in detail.

The presentation will be held by Oscar Brekell, certified Japanese tea instructor and author of “A beginner’s Guide to Japanese Tea” and several other titles published in Japanese, English and French. With several years of experience teaching about tea in a total of fifteen countries, Oscar will guide you through the latest developments in the field of Japanese tea, and also unlock many secrets rarely told. A must for anyone interested in green tea.