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THE BLEND
A living blend. Evolving with every harvest.
Life is built on a formula that doesn't change — Japanese sencha, Moroccan spearmint, and a touch of peppermint. What changes every year is the sencha itself. Each spring M.R. Peyton selects a single cultivar from the Kinezuka family farm's annual harvest — choosing based on flavor, EGCG concentration, versatility of infusion, and how the cultivar interacts with the mint in the cup. No two years are identical. The blend evolves because the harvest evolves.
The cultivar history:
2024 — Okuhikari Sencha, Kinezuka Family Farm
2025 — Yamakai Sencha, Kinezuka Family Farm
2026 — Tsuyuhikari Sencha, Kinezuka Family Farm
This year's selection is the Tsuyuhikari cultivar — named Tsuyuhikari, meaning dew light in Japanese. Originally bred as a cross of the Shizu-7132 and Asatsuyu cultivars, Tsuyuhikari is recognized among the upper echelon of Japanese green tea cultivars. Its flavor is umami-forward, creamy on the palate, with a fresh vegetality and a subtle piney note on the nose. Its astringency is comparatively low — and its interaction with the spearmint and peppermint in this blend is more prominent than any cultivar used in previous years. The green tea is easier to taste now. More present. More alive.
The Kinezuka Family Farm — known as NaturaliTea — is a fully organic Japanese tea farm nestled in rural Fujieda, Shizuoka, growing top quality tea in harmony with the environment. This season's harvest was collected April 19th, 2026 at 200 meters elevation.
This is not a static product. It is a living blend with a lineage. And every year it gets better.
HOW TO INFUSE
Sencha is delicate. It rewards patience and precision.
First Infusion
Amount: 1 teaspoon per 8-12 oz of water
Temperature: 130°F — low and slow to preserve the delicate EGCG compounds and prevent bitterness
Time: 2 minutes
Serve: Hot — sip slowly and notice what lingers
Second Infusion
Temperature: 160°F
Time: 5 seconds — yes, five seconds. The leaf is already open and ready.
Third Infusion
Temperature: 175°F
Time: Coming soon — M.R. Payton is still perfecting this one
This blend is designed for multiple infusions. Each steeping reveals something new. The first is fresh and grassy. The second is softer and sweeter. The third is the quiet finish — delicate and warm.
Every temperature in this brew guide has been chosen deliberately to preserve the highest possible concentration of EGCG and L-theanine in each infusion.
Try adding: Nothing. This blend deserves to be experienced exactly as it is first. Then explore.
M.R. PAYTON ON LIFE (Previously Morning Mint Sencha)
I have been making this blend for years. The formula has never changed — sencha, Moroccan spearmint, a touch of peppermint. What changes is the sencha. Every spring I wait for the Kinezuka family's harvest and I choose the cultivar that I believe will carry the blend forward best. That annual decision is one of my favorite rituals as a craftsman.
This year's Tsuyuhikari is different from what came before. The grassy, vegetal, umami notes of the sencha are more prominent — more present in the cup. The green tea doesn't hide behind the mint this year. It stands alongside it. The spearmint still lifts. The peppermint still nudges. But the sencha is clearer, more alive, more itself.
And that lingering finish. Even now — thirty seconds, two minutes after the last sip — I breathe in and the mint is still there. Coating my mouth. Cooling my lungs. And in that moment I am reminded that I have breath in my body. That I am here. That I am alive.
I have been tempted to rename this blend for a long time. Today I am certain. Morning Mint Sencha was the name it was born with. Life is the name it has grown into. Because that is what this blend does — it reminds you that as long as you are breathing, you have everything you need to begin again.
I made this for Jasperians who wake up and need more than caffeine. Who need a reason. Who need a reminder. Who need a moment — just one moment in the morning — where their body and their breath and their cup all say the same thing at the same time.
You are alive. Go live.
WELLNESS & INTENTION
Every ingredient in Life was chosen with a single overarching intention — to give the body and mind what they need to show up fully to the day ahead.
Tsuyuhikari Sencha is a first flush Japanese green tea — meaning it is harvested from the very first buds of the spring season, when the concentration of beneficial compounds in the leaf is at its highest. Green tea — and sencha specifically — contains one of the highest concentrations of EGCG, a polyphenol that has been widely studied for its powerful antioxidant properties and its potential role in supporting the body's natural defenses at a cellular level. This is the primary reason M.R. Peyton selects sencha as the foundation of this blend every year — to give Jasperians access to the highest concentration of this compound possible in a naturally delicious cup.
Sencha also contains a natural and moderate amount of caffeine paired with L-theanine — the amino acid that smooths the edge of caffeine and promotes calm, sustained mental alertness without the spike or the crash. This combination is what gives Life its signature cognitive uplift. Not aggressive. Not jittery. Just clear, present, and awake.
Moroccan Spearmint contributes a natural cooling sensation and has been traditionally used to support digestion, respiratory health, and mental clarity. It is what carries the refreshing quality of this blend long after the last sip — coating the mouth, cooling each breath, and creating the lingering reminder that is the signature of Life.
Peppermint adds a sharper, brighter note of coolness and is traditionally used to support mental alertness, digestive comfort, and respiratory ease. It is the subtle poke — the cognitive nudge — that sharpens the spearmint's softness into something invigorating.
Together these three ingredients support the body physically, mentally, and emotionally. Antioxidant protection. Sustained natural energy. Mental clarity. Respiratory freshness. And a lingering reminder with every breath that you are alive and present in the moment.
Important: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual responses to herbal infusions may vary. If you have specific health concerns, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medication, please consult your healthcare provider before use.
A NOTE ON ALLERGENS & MEDICATION
While allergic reactions to sencha, spearmint, and peppermint are rare they are possible. The caffeine naturally present in sencha may interact with certain medications or sensitivities. Peppermint may not be suitable for individuals with acid reflux or GERD in large quantities. If you are taking medications or have specific health concerns please consult your healthcare provider before consuming this infusion. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should always consult their healthcare provider before use.
Our Commitment to Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing: At Jasper & Gold, we're deeply committed to minimizing our environmental impact and supporting sustainable practices.
Here's how we're doing our part:
Tea Bags: Our tea bags are made from 100% natural, unbleached cotton, making them biodegradable, compostable, and environmentally friendly. To extend their life, carefully open the bag, empty the contents, rinse with hot water, and allow to air dry completely.
Loose Leaf: We encourage the use of reusable infusers and strainers for loose leaf tea, actively reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable tea ritual.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: We're continually exploring and implementing eco-friendly packaging options to minimize waste and reduce our carbon footprint.
Responsible Sourcing: We partner with suppliers who share our commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, ensuring that our ingredients are sourced responsibly and with integrity.
