Of all the leaf teas in Japan, the Gyokuro tea price is likely the highest. This has to do with a variety of different factors, ranging from the cultivation of the tea plant, the selection of the leaves, and the processing of the tea itself.
In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into gyokuro and find out what exactly makes this green tea so expensive.
Before you get started, you may want to refresh your knowledge about what Gyokuro is. We strongly recommend you read the article 👉 Everything You Need to Know About Gyokuro Tea. It's the ultimate guide about this magical tea!
Gyokuro Tea Price: What the Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
Gyokuro price per pound, gram and kilogram
Here’s a breakdown of the average gyokuro tea price based on our research across 10 leading tea brands:
| Measurement | Average Price per g / lb | Average Price per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Per Gram | $0.4151 / g | $415.10 / kg |
| Per Pound (453.59 g) | $188.29 / lb | $415.10 / kg |
Factors that influence the price
There are a few different factors that influence the gyokuro tea price. In this segment, we are going to discuss 5 reasons why the gyokuro tea price is so high, and why it is actually worth it for this carefully produced and selected tea.
Extra labor required to shade the plants
Gyokuro vs other shaded teas
Gyokuro and matcha are the two longest-shaded green teas in Japan. Certain Sencha are shaded for around 7 days, Kabuse sencha is shaded for 10 days or more, and Gyokuro and matcha green tea powder are shaded for 21 days or more.
Impact of shading on taste
The shading process reduces the bitterness of the tea and increases its sweetness. When the tea plant is exposed to sunlight it produces more catechins to protect itself from UV rays, which creates a more bitter flavor. If the tea plant is shaded, it produces fewer catechins and retains more of its theanine, which is responsible for the sweet and savory flavors of green teas.
Infrastructure needed for shading
For Gyokuro, farmers like Mr. Sakamoto need to set up scaffolding to put the nets on top of. The nets will then be rolled over the scaffolding so that the plant can be cut off from sunlight, but still allow space underneath for harvesting. This extra infrastructure adds cost and labor.
The plant has to survive 3 weeks without sunlight
Stress on the tea plant
After the scaffolding has been set up, the tea plant now needs to be kept alive for 3 weeks without sunlight. This is a stressful time for the plant, and it needs to be strengthened in order to maintain its health for this long period.
Organic vs chemical fertilizers
While most farmers would use chemical fertilizers to do this, organic farmers like Mr. Sakamoto rely on natural methods. He uses nutrients from the surrounding area combined with compost to create an organic fertilizer that strengthens the cellular structure of the tea plants.
Mr. Sakamoto explains that you can even tell organic leaves from non-organic leaves by holding them up to the light. The non-organic leaves have a denser cellular structure, so they appear less translucent.
Careful leaf selection
Why only the top sprouts are used
After the 3-week shading process is complete, the tea is ready to be harvested. Cheaper teas are made from the older leaves, lower down on the stem of the tea plant. To make premium sencha, matcha, and gyokuro, the top leaves of the plant need to be used. The top sprouts are the youngest, most nutrient-dense, and the sweetest in flavor.
Impact on yield and price
This careful leaf selection means that the farmer is able to produce less Gyokuro on the same acre of land compared to a cheaper tea like bancha, so the gyokuro tea price becomes higher. It also adds additional work during the production process, as leaves have to be more carefully harvested and sorted.
Leaves are steamed, partially dried and rolled
Unique rolling technique
After the leaves have been harvested, they are steamed, partially dried, and rolled. Gyokuro has unique, tightly rolled needle shapes that lock in the flavor so it can be released into the water in a strong infusion. This requires a specialized rolling machine, which adds to the production cost.
Final drying and shaping
After rolling, the leaves are dried one final time to reach a moisture content of 4–7%. This ensures the gyokuro leaves keep their flavor locked inside until infused. These tight needle-shaped leaves aren’t just aesthetic, they serve an important purpose in taste preservation.
High demand and few suppliers
Unique flavor profile
Gyokuro has become famous for its super-concentrated, sweet umami flavor that is very rare in the world of tea. Producers invest meticulous effort to perfect this flavor, often competing in tea competitions.
Why consumers pay more
Once perfected, people are willing to pay a higher gyokuro tea price for these exceptional teas. Even if it costs a few dollars per gram, Gyokuro is seen as a tea for special occasions, something to savor slowly with friends or family.
Changing gyokuro prices
Gyokuro prices have actually risen in the last year, thanks to a few different factors. If you thought the gyokuro green tea price was high before, here are 3 reasons why it may increase in the future.
Competition with Matcha
Since 2024, we have entered into a full-blown matcha shortage and it is impacting not only matcha prices, but gyokuro prices as well. The leaves used to make matcha undergo a similar production process to gyokuro, so there will be competition for plants, netting, pickers, and processing equipment.
As the matcha prices rise, the gyokuro price is expected to rise with it.
Trump’s tariffs
If you are in the US, the gyokuro price is set to rise even further due to tariffs. In 2025, the tariff on Japanese goods entering the US is currently 15%, which is more than most tea companies can sustain, so it will be passed on to the consumer in the form of increased prices.
Inflation
As with everything else, the gyokuro price will rise over time due to inflation. Gyokuro prices could even outpace inflation because the industry is so labor-intensive. As farmers retire, wages will need to rise to attract more workers, and the gyokuro green tea price will inevitably rise.
Where can I get gyokuro for a good price?
If you are looking to try some gyokuro for a good price, you can browse our selection of gyokuro on our official website, Nio Teas. After traveling around Japan for years and meeting with dozens of farmers, we have decided to get our gyokuro exclusively from Mr. Sakamoto.
Mr. Sakamoto has been working in the tea industry his entire life and he has been growing tea without the use of pesticides since 1985. The gyokuro tea he produces is the most flavorful we have tried and it is a great privilege to work with him. If you try out a few of the Gyokuro teas from Mr. Sakamoto, I think you will find that the gyokuro green tea price is worth it!
Final thoughts on Gyokuro Tea price
There are a lot of teas that are overpriced, but gyokuro is not one of them. The gyokuro tea price really takes into consideration all the hard work and careful selection behind this incredible green tea. We’ll leave the final decision up to you, and we strongly encourage you to try some gyokuro tea for yourself and see what all the excitement is about.
Gyokuro tea is a luxurious tea
It is no surprise that the gyokuro tea price is so high given the rich flavor and painstaking detail involved in the production. Compared to other luxurious drinks like champagne, the gyokuro tea price is actually quite reasonable. At the highest level, a cup of gyokuro may only cost a few dollars, which is very reasonable for a celebration among friends. So raise your glasses and let's toast to the incredible drink called gyokuro!
Is gyokuro the best green tea? For us, yes!
Gyokuro used to be the tea of choice for the emperor and it is easy to see why. For us, Gyokuro is the pinnacle of Japanese green tea, representing some of its best qualities: the careful growing of the tea, the precise selection of the leaves, and the meticulous processing. The end result is truly a work of art, and we really hope that you feel the same way!
Not all gyokuro teas are equally priced
So there are 5 reasons why the gyokuro green tea price is so high, although not all gyokuro teas are this way. The Gyokuro Cha Musume made by Mr. Sakamoto is one of our most popular teas, and it's comparable in price to a normal sencha. This tea has a really great sweet and savory flavor that has earned it a wonderful reputation. You can try it on our website, or you can sign up for the monthly tea club and get it in your first shipment.
How to enjoy gyokuro regularly
With the monthly tea club, you’ll not only get to try premium green teas from all over Japan, you’ll also get a free clay teapot to help prepare them. This is the perfect way to start off your journey into Japanese green tea.
Thank you all so much for reading our article about the gyokuro tea price and why it is so high. Hopefully you now know why the gyokuro tea price is so high and why it is still worth every penny. If you have any questions about Gyokuro, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Until then, we'll see you next time.
1 commento
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to publish more on this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t discuss such issues. To the next! All the best!!