Japan’s Secret Tea Date That Defines Matcha Quality

Today on May 2nd, we are celebrating 88 night(Hachiju hachiya), a day that connects deeply to one of the most important seasons in Japanese tea production. 

This traditional milestone marks the beginning of Japan’s first tea harvest, shincha season, and it is where the foundation of matcha quality begins.

What is 88 Night?

88 Night refers to the 88th night after the beginning of spring in Japan.

For tea farmers, this is an important agricultural turning point because:

• The risk of late frost becomes very low

• Tea plants reach a stage of stable and consistent growth

• It signals an ideal harvesting timing for high quality tea leaves

• Leaves harvested during this period tend to have balanced flavor and strong umami

This is why 88 Night is considered one of the most important points in Japan’s tea harvest season.

The Real Challenge Today

In the past, 88 Night was a relatively reliable indicator of seasonal stability.

However, tea farmers these days face increasing challenges due to global warming and climate change, including:

• Unpredictable temperature shifts

• Late frost events affecting early growth

• Changes in rainfall patterns impacting leaf development

• Shifting harvest timing from year to year

These environmental changes directly affect both the yield and quality of tea leaves, and that makes traditional timing less predictable than before.

As a result, farmers can no longer rely only on fixed calendar-based harvesting.

How Tea Farmers Adapt Today

To maintain high quality tea production under changing climate conditions, farmers are now combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques:

• Adjusting harvest timing field by field. Even within the same tea cultivar, harvest timing is carefully adjusted depending on microclimate and field conditions

• Agricultural monitoring technology - Some farms use drones to monitor crop growth, along with field sensors to track temperature and humidity in real time

• Frost protection systems(wind machines) - Many farms use frost prevention fans to protect young tea shoots during sudden temperature drops
  
  

Still, tea farmers' experience in harvesting remain essential in deciding the final harvest timing

How Does Hokusan Select Our Matcha?

We do not select matcha based only on appearance or general harvest timing.

Instead, we visit tea farms directly, and observe real harvest conditions on site by helping tea farmers harvest together. By visiting on site, we are able to understand how each field responds to seasonal changes, and that helps us carefully select matcha based on seasonal quality and farming reality.

Stay Connected

We share the latest updates, seasonal insights, and matcha education through our Instagram and blog.

Follow us on Instagram to stay updated on the latest matcha stories, harvest insights, and seasonal information!