Harumidori vs Okuhikari
Early and late, planted on the same farm for the same reason. A tea garden cannot pick everything at once, so cultivars are chosen partly for when they bud, and this pair shows what that agronomic decision does to the cup at each end.
cultivar
What is being compared
Point by point
| Aspect | Harumidori | Okuhikari |
|---|---|---|
| Bud break | Early, near the start of the picking window. | Late, at the far end of it. |
| Frost exposure | Higher — early growth meets late frosts. | Lower, and it is cold-hardy besides. |
| Character | Mild and sweet, with low bitterness. | Clean and brisk, with more astringent structure. |
| Why a farm plants it | To start picking, and to get first-flush material to market early. | To finish picking without the crop overrunning the factory. |
| Blend contribution | Softness and sweetness. | Backbone and briskness. |
| Single-cultivar appeal | Approachable, and thin if brewed hard. | More interesting to a drinker who wants grip, and unforgiving of long steeps. |
The short answer
The harvest calendar is the hidden variable behind a great many Japanese cultivar choices, and this pair makes it visible: a farm’s cultivar list is a picking schedule first and a flavour palette second. Neither plant was selected primarily for the cup, and both nonetheless taste of the position they occupy in the season.
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