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Green tea · Covered tea

Kabusecha

かぶせ茶, Kabuse

7.4/10 editor's score

Green tea shaded for about one to three weeks before picking. Sweeter and more savoury than sencha, lighter than gyokuro.

ShadedUmamiSpring
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Kabusecha, top-down

What you need

4 g leafKabusecha
200 ml water60 to 70°C
Steep 1:303 steeps
LiquorBright green-yellow
Served inKyūsu and yunomi

At a glance

Green tea shaded for about one to three weeks before picking.

CaffeineMedium~30 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit7.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestFirst flush, late April to MayShaded spring leaf.
Pairs withSushi, Steamed vegetables, Tofu, Light sweetsLess good with heavy spice
Grown atFarms of Mie and FukuokaMie, Kii Peninsula
Served inKyūsu and yunomiJapanese teapot, tall cup

About Kabusecha

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe the "covered aroma" of shaded teas, which are high in theanine and amino acids 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

MieKii PeninsulaJAPAN
Shade
Covered for 2 to 25 days before picking 1
Flush
Almost always first flush 1
Where
Mainly Mie and Fukuoka prefectures 2
Aroma
The "covered aroma", ooika 1

More from Mie and Japan.

History and culture

Kabuse shading was developed to copy the shading used for gyokuro at lower cost 1.

Editor's score

7.4/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 8.0Origin & heritage: 7.0Availability: 6.5Value: 8.0Beginner-friendliness: 7.5Versatility: 7.0Flavour 8.0Heritage 7.0Availability 6.5Value 8.0Beginners 7.5Versatility 7.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Kabusecha~30 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Shading raises caffeine and amino acids. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Kabusecha is almost always made from the first flush 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Camellia sinensis, covered with a porous material for 2 to 25 days before picking 1.

How it is made
01Shading

Covered for days or weeks 1.

02Steaming

Like sencha.

03Rolling

Needle shape.

04Drying

Dried and sorted.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafDeep, dark green needles.
LiquorBright green-yellow.
After steeping
Wet leafSoft, dark green leaf.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Sushi
  • Steamed vegetables
  • Tofu
  • Light sweets

Best avoided

  • Heavy spice

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and smells.
  • Green tea fades fastest: aim to finish it within 3 to 6 months of opening.
  • Unopened sealed packs can go in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before opening.
Grades and fakes

Longer shading gives a sweeter, more gyokuro-like tea.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Look for first flush.
  2. Most kabusecha comes from Mie and Fukuoka 2.
FAQ
Kabusecha or gyokuro?

Kabusecha is shaded for a shorter time, so it is lighter and usually cheaper 1.

Find it inGreen teasTeas from JapanMieShadedUmamiSpring

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Kabusecha". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabusecha
  2. Wikipedia, "Tea in Japan". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_in_Japan
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.