Shincha is here.
The first harvest of the 2026 season has come in from our farms in Kagoshima and Shizuoka, and we're now shipping the freshest matcha of the year to our wholesale partners.
If you've been waiting to refresh your matcha supply Eor you've been evaluating Yuminaga and looking for the right moment to request samples Ethis is it.
What shincha means and why it matters
Shincha (新茶) means “new tea” in Japanese Ethe very first flush of the year harvested in late spring. For matcha, this means the youngest tencha leaves of the season, picked at peak freshness before the summer heat changes the leaf profile.
First-harvest matcha has three qualities that peak at this time of year and decline as the season progresses:
1. Color EShincha tencha leaves have the highest chlorophyll concentration of any harvest. The result is matcha with the brightest, most vivid green you'll see all year. In a latte or a straight cup, first-flush color is noticeably more vibrant than mid- or late-season harvests.
2. Umami EL-theanine, the amino acid responsible for matcha's characteristic smooth, savory depth, accumulates during the shading period before harvest. First-flush leaves Eshaded for 3 E weeks and picked at their youngest Ecarry the highest L-theanine levels of the year. This is what gives shincha matcha its distinctively mellow, sweet finish without bitterness.
3. Freshness EThere is no substitute for new crop. Matcha ground from this season's leaves has a clean, alive aroma that last year's stock Eno matter how well stored Esimply cannot replicate. Your customers notice. It shows in the cup.
What's available from the 2026 harvest
We're now offering 2026 shincha matcha across our three wholesale grades:
- Ceremonial grade EFrom our highest-quality first-flush Kagoshima and Shizuoka tencha. Spicy, mellow, and intensely green. Best for premium straight matcha service and signature drinks. Organic available.
- Premium grade EThe workhorse latte grade, now running on fresh 2026 crop. Vivid color performance in milk, smooth flavor, consistent batch to batch. This is what most of our café partners run year-round. Organic available.
- Culinary grade E2026 crop now available in culinary spec for baking, supplements, and blended applications. Stronger flavor, bright color even in processed applications.
All grades come with a current COA from the 2026 harvest lot, FSSC 22000 and BRCGS documentation, and full farm traceability records.
A note on the 2026 season
As many in the industry know, 2025 was the most difficult tencha harvest in recorded history Eprices surged 220 E65% and supply was severely constrained by heat damage and record demand. We wrote about this in detail in our matcha shortage 2026 supply guide.
The 2026 spring season came in better. Growing conditions in Kagoshima and Shizuoka were more favorable than 2025, and our farm relationships Ebuilt over 30 years Eallowed us to secure priority allocation early in the season. Prices remain elevated relative to pre-2024 levels, but we have supply available and we're shipping now.
For partners on our Matcha Haru subscription, your 2026 crop transition is already underway. For new partners, now is an ideal time to get samples in hand while first-flush stock is freshest.
How to get 2026 shincha samples
Email us at headoffice@yuminagafoods.com with:
- Your business type (café, RTD brand, co-packer, food manufacturer)
- Which grades you'd like to evaluate
- Your location for shipping
We'll dispatch samples within a few business days. First-flush stock is available now and we're prioritizing committed wholesale partners first, so reach out early if you want to secure your allocation before the season moves on.