Kagoshima

Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern tip of Kyushu is Japan's second-largest tea producer after Shizuoka, and its warm subtropical climate produces the country's earliest first-flush sencha — typically harvested in early April, weeks ahead of Shizuoka. Kagoshima has been an early adopter of mechanised and autonomous tea harvesting; its production leans heavily fukamushi (deep-steamed) sencha, which gives the cup a darker green colour and a thicker, more vegetal mouthfeel than asamushi (light- steamed) styles.