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The 5 Best Shizuoka Teas of 2025 (Fukamushi & Sencha)

Quick Guide: Fukamushi vs. Asamushi

Fukamushi (Deep Steamed) is cloudy, deep green, and has a rich, savory body with almost no bitterness. It is best for those who love umami. Asamushi (Light Steamed) is clear, golden-yellow, and has a sophisticated floral aroma. Choose based on your texture preference.

Shizuoka produces 40% of Japan's tea, but quality varies wildly. The region is famous for two distinct styles: the deep-steamed, emerald green Fukamushi from the Makinohara plateau, and the refined, needle-shaped Honyama Sencha from the misty mountains.

We tested over 30 teas from the region to find the best examples of each style. Whether you want a thick, soupy morning brew or a delicate, aromatic afternoon cup, here are the top 5 authentic Shizuoka teas.

A variety of Shizuoka green teas being brewed in glass teapots to show color differences.
Best Overall (Fukamushi)
O-Cha Makinohara Deep Green Fukamushi Sencha package

1. O-Cha 'Makinohara Deep Green'

★★★★★ (The Umami Bomb)

If you want the quintessential Shizuoka experience, this is it. Grown on the sun-drenched Makinohara plateau and deep-steamed for 90 seconds, this tea brews a thick, cloudy, vibrant green liquor. It is intensely savory with notes of edamame, spinach, and broth, with almost zero bitterness.

Pros:
  • Incredible emerald green color
  • Rich, soupy mouthfeel
  • Very forgiving to brew
Cons:
  • Leaves are broken (powdery)
  • Requires fine mesh filter
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Best Premium (Mountain)
Honyama Shogun's Reserve Sencha package

2. Honyama 'Shogun's Reserve' Sencha

★★★★★ (Refined Elegance)

This is the counterpoint to Fukamushi. Grown in the misty mountains along the Abe River (the historic source for the Shoguns), this tea is lightly steamed (Asamushi). The needles are long, intact, and beautiful. The liquor is clear gold, with delicate floral aromas and a crisp, refreshing finish.

Pros:
  • Elegant, needle-shaped leaves
  • Complex floral/mineral notes
  • Clear liquor (beautiful in glass)
Cons:
  • Requires precise temp (70°C)
  • More expensive per gram
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Best Daily Drinker

3. Izu Peninsula Guricha (Tamaryokucha)

★★★★☆ (Sweet & Tangy)

Most Japanese tea is rolled into needles. Guricha is left in a curled, "comma" shape. This unique processing results in a tea that releases flavor slowly and has a distinct tangy, berry-like sweetness. It is less astringent than standard Sencha and perfect for casual brewing in a mug.

Pros:
  • Unique tangy-sweet profile
  • Can be re-steeped 3-4 times
  • Great value for money
Cons:
  • Harder to find outside specialty shops
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Best Low Caffeine
Shizuoka Karigane Kukicha package

4. Shizuoka Karigane (Premium Kukicha)

★★★★☆ (Creamy & Sweet)

Made from the stems of high-grade Gyokuro and Sencha, Karigane contains less caffeine but double the L-Theanine (the calming amino acid). This Shizuoka blend is incredibly creamy, tasting almost like milk tea without the milk. It is the perfect evening green tea.

Pros:
  • Low Caffeine, High L-Theanine
  • Naturally sweet (no sugar needed)
  • Zero bitterness
Cons:
  • Light body (can feel thin)
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Best for Cooking/Lattes
Organic Shizuoka Sencha Powder

5. Organic Shizuoka Sencha Powder

★★★★☆ (Versatile)

Not to be confused with Matcha (which is shade-grown), this is powdered whole-leaf Sencha. It has a sharper, more grassy bite than Matcha, making it perfect for cutting through milk in lattes or for baking cakes where you want the green tea flavor to punch through the sugar.

Pros:
  • 100% Leaf Consumption (Nutrients)
  • Instant (No teapot needed)
  • Excellent for baking
Cons:
  • Too astringent to drink plain like Matcha
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Read Next: Master Shizuoka Tea

Understand the region and the technique.

The Guide to Shizuoka: Samurai & Sencha

Steaming Science: Why Fukamushi is Cloudy

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