https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237011229_'Sunrouge'_a_New_Tea_Cultivar_with_High_Anthocyanin

• Tokunoshima is a  volcanic island in Kagoshima prefecture, situated on the southern tip of Japan.  Covered in mountain peaks and rolling hills, the island has a mild, subtropical climate alternating between warm summer and cool winter.  The island's cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world.  

• Cultivation Notes:  
  • Sun Rouge cultivar is the result of an 8-year R&D project by the  Japanese National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, a division of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization  (NARO).
  • Full sun, no shading to optimize level of catechins, especially anthocyanin.
• Processing Notes:  
  • Lightly steamed (Asamushi) to preserve bioactive compounds in the tea leaves.
  • Caffeine:  High 
• Tasting Note:  
  • Liquor steeped into a thick, drab olive green color.
  • Discernable astringent taste with slight bitter edge.  
  • Although Sencha Sun Rouge tastes very differently from other Sencha made from the young leaves of other tea cultivars, its unique taste is very refreshing, especially with the addition of a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.   

Summary of Research Studies on Asamushi Sencha Sun Rouge:

• Sencha Sun Rouge contains higher levels of catechins commonly found in tea as compared to other green teas.  
• In addition, Sencha Sun Rouge contains a high level of a rare group of catechins, called methylated catechins (methylated catechins EGCG3 “Me and EGCG4” Me) which are not found in other teas.  The unique health benefits of Sencha Sun Rouge are attributed to the synergistic and combined effects of all these types of catechins.
• Sencha Sun Rouge also contains a high level of anthocyanin, a powerful anti-oxidant found in plant materials with deep shade of purple, blue, and red.  The anthocyanin compounds found in Sencha Sun Rouge is water soluble and very stable. The task of anthocyanin’s is predominantly to protect the plants from UV radiation, from insects, bacteria, fungi and free radicals. They are also involved in the regulation of hormones in enzyme activities, and  in gene expression.

Summary of Documented Health Benefits of Sun Rouge: 

Because of Sencha Sun Rouge’s high content of anthocyanin and methylated catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG-3Me) and epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG-4Me), it may benefit human health the following ways: 

1. Anti-oxidative – binding free radicals and protecting against oxidative stress, thus contributing significantly in:
   1. Supporting cellular health - enhances mitochondrial health
   2. Supporting skin health - prevents skin damage due to oxidative and environmental stressors, such as UV radiation and environmental pollution.
   3. Supporting vision health - Sun Rouge AChE inhibitory activity (acetylcholinesterase), mainly in the focus adjustment of the eye (relaxation of ciliary muscle); improves night vision, reduces eye strain, blurred vision, eye dryness,adult macular degeneration as a result of exposure to harsh UV light and electromagnetic radiation emitted from screens and artificial lighting.
   4. Support oral and dental health - anti-carries
2. Anti-fatigue - prevents brain fog, eye fatigue, muscle fatigue
3. Anti-allergic - anti-histamine
4. Anti-inflammatory - particularly useful in inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, where conventional green tea varieties can have adverse effects.
5. Neuroprotective - protects against neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementias, Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, Autism.
6. Anti-carcinogenic, - inhibits the growth of cancer cells, induces apoptosis, and reduces inflammation.
7. Protects against insecticide and nerve agent poisoning
8. Improves neuro-muscular strength.
9. Anti-obesity - suppress appetite,  improves fat metabolism and block fat absorption
10. Anti-diabetes - regulates metabolic function, especially  insulin secretion
11. Anti-hypertensive - regulates blood pressure
12. Anti-hypercholesterolemic - help reduce cholesterol levels, thereby lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and other related conditions.
13. Anti-microbial - prevents dental caries and positively influences intestinal flora.

References

• Chemical analysis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of anthocyanin-rich red leaf tea (cv. Sunrouge).  Mari Maeda-Yamamoto, Takeshi Saito, Atsushi Nesumi, Yoshiko Tokuda, Kaori Ema, Daiki Honma, Akiko Ogino, Manami Monobe, Akira Murakami, Akira Murakami, Hirofumi Tachibana.  [https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jsfa.5644]. 

• ‘Sunrouge’,  a  New  Tea  Cultivar  with  High  Anthocyanin.  Atsushi NESUMI1,*Akiko OGINO1, Katsuyuki YOSHIDA1, Fumiya TANIGUCHI1, Mari MAEDA YAMAMOTO2, Junichi TANAKA3 and Akira MURAKAMI.[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237011229_%27Sunrouge%27_a_New_Tea_Cultivar_with_High_Anthocyanin

• Identifications of inhibitors of IgE production by human lymphocytes isolated from ‘Cha Chuukanbohon Nou 6’ tea leaves Daiki Honma, Motoyuki Tagashira, Tomomasa Kanda, Mari Maeda-Yamamoto. Journal of the Science of Food and AgricultureVolume 90, Issue 1.  [https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/authored-by/Maeda%E2%80%90Yamamoto/Mari]

• Sun Rouge Green Tea [https://www.greentea.net/sunrouge-tea/]