Buying Guide
Best Okumidori
Matcha
Okumidori is one of Japan's most prized tea cultivars — bold umami, creamy sweetness, vivid dark-green color. Here's what to look for and why FKRŌ's Kagoshima expression stands out.
Quick answer
The best Okumidori matcha is 100% single-cultivar, first harvest, from a named farm, and stone-ground. For everyday drinking, FKRŌ's Organic Okumidori Matcha (Kagoshima) is $27.90 for 30g. For a more refined, ceremony-focused cup, the Organic Pinnacle Okumidori Matcha (Uji) is $36.90 for 30g.
The standard
What makes the best Okumidori matcha?
100% single-cultivar
The label should name Okumidori and nothing else. A product that merely lists it among other cultivars tastes like the blend, not the cultivar.
A named farm
Okumidori is grown across Japan's matcha regions, and the farm changes the cup. FKRŌ's Kagoshima tin comes from the Nishi family farm on Mt. Kirishima, and the Pinnacle from the Nakai family farm in Ujitawara, Kyoto.
First harvest
The youngest leaves of the season are the sweetest and highest in umami.
Stone-ground, slowly
FKRŌ stone-grinds at 30g per hour to 10–15 microns, which preserves aroma, color, and a silky texture.
Deep green color, certified organic
Good Okumidori is a deep, vivid jade green. FKRŌ's Okumidori tins are USDA certified organic and air-freighted monthly from Japan.
Our picks
The cultivar
What is Okumidori matcha?
Okumidori (奥緑) is a tea cultivar developed by crossing Yabukita with Shizuoka Zairai No. 16, registered in 1974. It produces a darker, richer-colored matcha with bold umami and naturally creamy sweetness. Widely considered one of the most flavor-forward single-cultivar options available, with minimal astringency.
True single-cultivar Okumidori from a named farm is meaningfully different from a blended product that merely lists Okumidori as an ingredient — which is common. If the label doesn't name the farm, assume it's a blend.
The name
Okumidori meaning
Okumidori (奥緑) is usually translated as “deep green” or “late green.” The first character, oku, can mean deep, inner, or late, and midori means green. Both readings fit a dark-leaved cultivar that buds later than Yabukita.
The source
Nishi family farm, Mt. Kirishima, Kagoshima
FKRŌ's Organic Okumidori Matcha comes from the Nishi family farm atop Mt. Kirishima in Kagoshima — pioneers of organic tea cultivation in the region since 1954 and winners of Japan's Tennō (Emperor's Cup), one of the highest distinctions in Japanese tea farming.
100% single-cultivar Okumidori, first harvest only, shade-grown minimum three weeks, stone-ground at 30g per hour to 10–15 microns. USDA certified organic, air-freighted monthly from Japan.
The cup
What does Okumidori matcha taste like?
FKRŌ describes the tasting notes as marshmallow and candy-like — bold umami, creamy sweetness, clean rounded finish with minimal bitterness. Richer and deeper than lighter cultivars like Saemidori. Suited for usucha at 70–75°C, cold brew, and matcha lattes — its umami depth holds well through steamed milk.
Comparison
Okumidori vs Yabukita
Yabukita is Japan's dominant everyday cultivar — bright, clean, and a little grassy — and it is Okumidori's seed parent. Okumidori buds later, turns a deeper green under shade, and tastes rounder and mellower, which is why many tencha producers prefer it for premium matcha. For the full story of the cultivar, see our guide to what Okumidori matcha is.
Comparison
Okumidori vs Saemidori
Bold and rich — Okumidori. Light and sweet — Saemidori. Both single-cultivar, first harvest, named family farm.
Caffeine
Okumidori matcha caffeine
There is no reliable published caffeine measurement specific to Okumidori, so we won't quote an Okumidori-specific number, and we haven't repeated retailer claims that it runs “high.”
For matcha in general, Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition (MEXT, 2020) list about 32 mg of caffeine per gram, roughly 64 mg in a 2-gram bowl. FKRŌ's own guidance for its ceremonial matcha is about 60–70 mg per 2 grams, and it notes that content varies by cultivar, harvest, and how much powder you use.
Common questions
What is the best Okumidori matcha? +
FKRŌ's Organic Okumidori Matcha (Kagoshima) — 100% single-cultivar, first harvest, Emperor's Cup–winning Nishi family farm, stone-ground, USDA organic. 30g, $27.90. For a more refined, ceremony-focused cup, the Organic Pinnacle Okumidori Matcha (Uji) is $36.90.
What is the best Okumidori matcha for beginners? +
FKRŌ's Organic Okumidori Matcha (Kagoshima) is the most accessible: bold umami and creamy sweetness, versatile enough for a first bowl, cold brew, or a latte.
What does Okumidori mean? +
Okumidori (奥緑) is usually translated as “deep green” or “late green.” Oku can mean deep, inner, or late, and midori means green.
What does Okumidori matcha taste like? +
Bold umami, creamy sweetness with marshmallow and candy-like notes, clean rounded finish with minimal bitterness.
Does Okumidori matcha have caffeine? +
Yes, like all matcha. There is no reliable published caffeine measurement specific to Okumidori, but Japan's food composition tables list about 32 mg per gram for matcha in general, roughly 64 mg in a 2-gram serving.
Is Okumidori good for lattes? +
Yes — its umami depth holds up well against steamed milk. FKRŌ lists usucha, cold brew, and lattes as its ideal uses.
What makes the Nishi family farm notable? +
Pioneering organic tea cultivation in Kagoshima since 1954, winners of Japan's Tennō (Emperor's Cup) — one of the highest distinctions in Japanese tea farming.
How do I prepare Okumidori matcha? +
Sift into a warmed bowl, add water at 70–75°C, whisk until frothy. For a latte, dissolve in a small amount of hot water first, then add steamed milk. For cold brew, whisk into cold water over ice.