Tamaryoku Funmatcha (玉緑・粉末茶) is our name for a Japanese tea powder made by finely grinding high-grade shaded tamaryokucha, the signature green tea of Nagasaki.
Prepared just like matcha but made from tamaryokucha rather than tencha, it offers a bright, vibrant flavour with aromatic green notes, gentle sweetness and rich umami. Delicious whisked as a bowl of tea or used in lattes, mixed drinks and desserts, Tamaryoku Funmatcha celebrates a unique expression of finely ground Japanese green tea. (Read more about tamaryoku funmatcha here)
88 Tamaryoku Funmatcha
The 88 (‘hachi hachi) Tamaryoku Funmatcha is made from first flush shaded tamaryokucha using a carefully maintained house blend that changes slightly from season to season to preserve its characteristic flavour. While often centred around cultivars such as Tsuyuhikari, Saemidori and Yabukita, the exact composition is adjusted by the producer with each batch.
Compared with Gento, 88 has a brighter and more lively personality. It opens with a touch more bitterness, but this quickly transforms into a pleasantly sweet finish. Distinctive nutty, toasted and lightly caramelised notes combine with an intriguing aromatic lift, creating a tea that feels both grounding and refreshing at the same time.
Its bold tea character makes it especially well suited to milk-based drinks, where the slight bitterness adds structure while the roasted and nutty notes pair beautifully with dairy and plant-based milks. Whether enjoyed traditionally or as a latte, 88 offers a unique expression of shaded tamaryokucha that confidently stands on its own rather than trying to imitate matcha.
Why “88”?
Why did we name this tea ’88’? In Japan, the 88th Night of Spring (Hachijūhachiya) traditionally signals the beginning of the tea harvest. Named in its honour, our 88 Tamaryoku Funmatcha celebrates the arrival of spring and the fresh, vibrant character of first flush tea.
This tea is not necessarily harvested on the 88th night of Spring. Due to the shift in climate patterns, harvesting has in general started two weeks earlier than traditionally and Sonogi tea region already sees the first spring harvests arriving mid April.
The tea is packed in 50 gram aluminium foil lined ziplock bags.
