Wakatake is a full bodied culinary grade matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen, positioned at the top of the house’s culinary range. Selected for strength and colour retention, it maintains depth and vibrancy even under heat.
The flavour opens bold and green with structured bitterness and lower astringency than Rindo. As it settles on the palate, natural sweetness and subtle citrus notes emerge, followed by warm savoury umami. The fragrance is floral and lightly herbaceous, with a bright yuzu like lift.
In milk applications, its bitterness softens while maintaining strong vegetal presence, making it particularly suited to matcha lattes. Its intense green colour holds well in baked goods and frozen desserts, allowing it to bridge the gap between culinary and ceremonial grade use.
Because of its layered profile and stability, Wakatake performs confidently across baked goods, patisserie, ice cream and milk based drinks.
Best suited for
- Usucha preparation
- Matcha latte preparation, holds its structure with milk
- Baking and dessert applications
Tasting notes, recommended uses and food pairings are developed through repeated preparation and evaluation under consistent conditions. Flavour and aroma may vary depending on preparation, ingredients, storage and individual palate.
Suggested preparation
Latte | 4-5g whisked with 50ml water at 80°C, 100-150ml of milk (served warm or iced)
Origin | Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Storage | Keep airtight and refrigerated after opening
Marukyu Koyamaen Best Before Date • Read (YY/MM/DD)
About The Producer
Founded during the Genroku period (1688-1704), Marukyu Koyamaen has spent more than three centuries producing Japanese green tea from its home in Uji, Kyoto, a region long recognised as the historical centre of Japanese tea cultivation. Established by Kyujiro Koyama, the company has remained dedicated to the cultivation, procurement, refining and blending of tea across successive generations, combining traditional craftsmanship with continually evolving production methods.
Marukyu Koyamaen oversees every major stage of the process. Alongside tea cultivated on its own farms, the company works closely with carefully selected growers before refining and blending each tea to achieve its intended character. This integrated approach has remained central to the company's production for more than 300 years and continues across its matcha, gyokuro, sencha, hōjicha and other Japanese green teas.
Marukyu Koyamaen's commitment to tea production has been recognised through one of Japan's strongest records at the National Tea Competition, receiving numerous first-place awards across multiple tea categories over several decades. Today, the company continues to produce its teas from Uji, combining centuries of accumulated knowledge with modern production and quality control while remaining one of Japan's longest-established tea producers.
Continue to the Origins section below for the complete history of Marukyu Koyamaen.
