Sawamizuka

 

 

 

 

 

Sawamizuka: High-quality, high-yield late-maturity cultivar, attracting attention at joint factory

      

 

Quality characteristics

The shape of crude “Sawamizuka” tea is thin, and the color and luster is dark green and good, but it may be slightly reddish. The aroma is different from that of “Yabukita”. It has a refreshing fine fragrance and its infusion is comparable to that of “Yabukita”. The taste is a bit astringent, refreshing and rich.

Tea merchants recognize that the color and luster of “Sawamizuka” are particularly fine, that the fragrance and flavor are as good as “Yabukita” and that the marketability is high. Disadvantages include the fact that the picking time is late in the season, and the scent of “Fujimidori” may appear.

 

Notes on cultivation

The vigor of “Sawamizuka” is strong, the tree shape type is open, the initial growth is excellent and it is easy to tailor from its early young tree stage. However, it is necessary to pay attention to protection in the cold during the early stage because it is vulnerable to laceration-type frost damage in spite of being a late-maturity cultivar.

 

Notes on processing

 “Sawamizuka” has thin sprouts, a good shape after being processed with a dark green color and luster, but it may also be reddish. If reddishness occurs, the steaming time is lengthened slightly and the tea temperature in the rough rolling/rubbing process is reduced.

The infusion color may be slightly reddish in case of regular steam. If it is steamed a little deeper, the color will become a beautiful green.

 

Dissemination and land suitability for cultivation

 "Sawamizuka" is a high-yielding late-maturity cultivar that can be cultivated in combination with “Yabukita”. Although its cold-resistance is the same as “Yabukita”, it is resistant to anthracnose and has excellent vigor, making it suitable for cultivar combination cultivation in mechanized cultivation systems in mountainous and flat areas in warm regions.