Kanro (Cold Dew)

October 8th marks Kanro (Cold Dew).

The dew resting upon grasses and leaves grows colder, while the moon shines clear and bright in the night sky. With the air turning crisp and transparent, autumn begins to deepen in earnest.

At this time of year, the evening sky can turn crimson in an instant before the sun quickly disappears—a seasonal phenomenon known in Japanese as tsurube otoshi, evoking the sudden drop of a well bucket.

It brings back memories of childhood, hurrying home before darkness fell, and with them, a faintly bittersweet feeling that still catches somewhere in the heart.

For this season, we have created a blend carrying a quiet trace of those autumn memories.

Fresh and toasty Yabukita Kamairi Sencha is layered with mugwort flowers and ginkgo leaves.

From beyond the rising steam emerge the rich, harvest-like aromas of ripened rice and straw, followed by the delicate sweetness of white flowers reminiscent of lily of the valley. Then comes the clear, wild fragrance of field herbs.

A natural sweetness reminiscent of yomogi mochi unfolds across the palate, while the fresh bitterness of komatsuna and the untamed character of wild herbs evoke the bittersweet tenderness of an autumn dusk.

A sage-like herbal freshness lingers on the finish, allowing you to enjoy the way the tea’s character shifts and unfolds from one moment to the next.

Around this time of year, Kannamesai, a harvest ritual in which the first rice of the year is offered in gratitude for nature’s bounty, is observed at Ise Jingu and throughout Japan.

The word kanname is said to derive from kami no ae—a feast offered to the deities. Ae carries the meaning of welcoming and honoring another with a meal prepared with care.

To give thanks for the autumn harvest, and to share in its abundance.

It is one of the season’s important moments of gratitude.

As the mornings and evenings grow increasingly cool, we hope you will enjoy a warm cup of tea and a peaceful moment this season.