LAND OF THE GODS | IZUMO I-24 MATCHA

What matcha should you choose when you start drinking matcha?

This super versatile tea from Izumo may be a good choice.  It works very well on its own, but it is also delicious as a latte, cortado or iced matcha.  And it is quite cost efficient.

If you are starting to explore matcha, we strongly suggest that you practice whisking some light usucha (2g of tea on 90g of water at 70°C).  

The 2024 version of this classic is here!

An Unusual Origin with Immense Cultural Significance

According to tradition, during the 10th lunar month, all the gods in the Shinto pantheon gather at the Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, in Shimane Prefecture.  The region is sparsely populated but culturally immense; it is known as 'The Land of the Gods'.

Experience:  effortless, rich, thick froth; notes of bok choi and macadamia nuts.

This matcha is delicious as traditional usucha, americano (double shot of matcha +180ml of water), cortado (double shot + 2oz steamed milk) or matcha tonic (iced shot on 200ml of your favourite tonic).

Cool Fact:  National Geographic calls Shimane "Japan's Best Kept Secret".  This is also true when talking about tea!

Origin: Izumo, Shimane | 35.3° N 132.8° E

Cultivar: Okumidori

GROWER:

Yuta Oka San, who left a TV production job in Tokyo to revive his great grandparents' tea business in Izumo.  Oka San was awarded the top prize in the 69th (2022) edition of Japan's National Tea Judging Skills Competition (第69回全国茶審査技術競技大会 優勝報告); aged only 36, he is the first competitor from Shimane and one of the youngest to ever win this award.   

IZUMO, AN UNLIKELY ORIGIN:

If you Wikipedia Izumo, you will learn about famous soba noodles, Japan’s oldest Shinto shrine and the country’s most ancient stone age tools; you will read nothing about tea.

There is, however, a history of tea production in the region.  In the early 20th century, Oka San’s family grew tea in Izumo (see B&W pictures); their business fizzled in the post war years, and the family only made tea for personal consumption.

In 2006 Oka San decided to start growing tea commercially in Izumo, In 2010, he got the first decent harvest; by 2022, the Oka family is again producing some outstanding leads.