gyokuro; high-quality green tea
A premium shade-grown Japanese green tea with a rich, sweet flavor. Often contrasted with 煎茶 (sencha) and 番茶 (bancha).
jewel-like dewdrop
Original, now rare, meaning. Refers to a dewdrop that sparkles like a jewel. Mainly encountered in classical poetry or literary contexts.
古い和歌では、玉露が宝石のような朝露を指すことがある。
In old waka poetry, 玉露 can refer to a morning dewdrop like a jewel.
Gyokuro is grown shaded from sunlight, so it has little bitterness and a strong sweetness.
お客様に玉露を差し上げた。
I served gyokuro to the guest.
From 玉 (jewel) and 露 (dew), originally referring to a jewel-like dewdrop. The tea sense likely arose from the tea's preciousness and the dew-like appearance of its infusion.