Geography and growing conditions

Guizhou province lies in south-west China, with tea-growing areas between 800 and 1,500 metres above sea level. Jiangkou County (江口县), in the north-east of the province, is the fastest growing matcha area. Its conditions: a subtropical mountain climate with heavy rainfall (1,300 mm a year), acid soils rich in selenium, and morning mists that filter the sunlight naturally.

These factors create conditions that echo, to a degree, the microclimate of the Uji river valley in Kyoto: natural mist, a wide day-to-night temperature range, and soils that hold moisture without waterlogging.

The figure that redraws the world map

Jiangkou County exported more than 1,200 tonnes of matcha in 2024 to 44 countries. That is the highest export volume from a single matcha area in China in one year. The local industry has grown more than 200% over five years, driven by global demand the Japanese market cannot meet.

Comparative studies by the Guizhou Tea Research Institute have documented that some Jiangkou matchas have L*a*b* colour profiles comparable to those of Nishio and Kagoshima, which points to similar chlorophyll levels when the shading is done properly.

Sensory profile

  • Colour: deep green, closer to the Japanese than other Chinese matchas from lower-lying provinces. It depends a great deal on how the shading is done.
  • Aroma: clean vegetal notes with a light floral complexity. Different from Uji, but with a clearly defined identity of their own.
  • Umami: moderate. Cultivar selection in Guizhou is still being optimised to maximise L-theanine. The current cultivars are more productive than they are umami-intensive.
  • Body: light to medium. A more approachable profile than Uji for a beginner.

Where to find it in Europe

Guizhou matcha is starting to appear on the European market, mostly as a blend component or at entry level. The specialist brands working directly with Jiangkou growers will have the best versions of this region over the next few years. It is the Chinese region to watch for anyone building a serious matcha shelf.