Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
★★★★★
Samidori
Vivid green, velvety and sweet with balanced umami. The versatile Uji matcha staple.
Species
var. sinensis
Lineage
Modern selection
Country
Japan
Year
1953
Leaf size
Medium
Cup quality
5/5
Samidori (さみどり) is one of the foundational Uji cultivars, selected from local Uji landrace material and registered in the 1953 inaugural cultivar list. It is the everyday backbone of Kyoto matcha and gyokuro production — versatile, high-yielding and with an extended harvest window.
Under shade it produces a vivid green powder with powerful umami balanced by sweetness and a smooth, velvety texture. Less expensive and more forgiving than the prized Asahi, Samidori is the cultivar behind a large share of good mid-to-premium Uji matcha.
Modern selection
Selected from heirloom material in the 20th century. Developed 1953. Parent material: Uji Zairai.
Lineage data & sources
Clonal / landrace selection — selected from its regional population, so a specific mother and father plant are not individually documented.
Sources: ujimatchatea.com
Teas produced
MatchaGyokuro
Flavor signature
Growing regions
- Japan (Kyoto/Uji)
Origins where Samidori grows
Brands likely carrying Samidori
Direct-sourcing operations with focus areas that align with this cultivar's typical growing regions.