TAKAHASHI YUZO

The First Organic Green Tea Producer Of Oita

Established in 1963, the Takahashi green tea factory is located in Usuki (Oita pref., Eastern Kyushu) and produces organic green tea since 2001. It was the first green tea farm in Oita to receive the organic JAS certification in 2001.

Takahashi san is now the second generation of his family to lead his business and is specialized in tamaryokucha, a green tea known for its jade color (tama), quite similar to sencha, but whose leaves have a curly shape, and not needle-like.

The very last stage of the processing method is different: the tea leaves are put inside drums and dried with hot air. Takahashi san grows seven different tea cultivars, mainly Yabukita.

Takahashi san is also producing a GABA enhanced green tea and black tea.

NESTED BETWEEN THE HILLS

Cooler Temperatures In A Warm Climate

TAMARYOKUCHA

Another Tea Specialty From Kyushu

Tamaryokucha ("coiled tea") is another specialty of Kyushu. It is a high grade green tea, very close to sencha, and is also commonly known as guricha("curly tea").

It has a tangy, berry-like taste, with a long almondy aftertaste and a deep aroma with tones of citrus, grass, and berries.

The leaves are then rolled into "comma" shapes (instead of being kneaded into "needle" shapes, like for sencha). The tea is golden yellow and can be reinfused, with a slightly different taste.

Higashi sonogi is a region specialized in this tea, which is produced by steaming the youngest leaves after the harvest. Thanks to the hard work and skills of Takahishi san, this tea has now also become popular in the Oita prefecture!

THE OITA REGION

GION Waterfalls, Hot Springs, Beaches And Ancient Forests

Oita prefecture is on the eastern part of Kyushu island and faces the Inland Sea on one end, and with the large Aso caldera at its back.

Compared to other regions in Kyushu, the green tea output of Oita is not very high, but its quality is on par with them.
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Tea production is done in various areas, from forest-side to mountainous zones. History of green tea production in Oita goes back to the Edo period.

Japanese black tea (koucha) and pan-fried green tea are among its specialties. More recently, large-scales efforts in land reclamation in the northern part of Oita has allowed the area to increase its green tea production when foreign black tea began to take hold in Japan.

Recently dozens of private and small-sized producers started to make their own green tea with increasing success, locally and worldwide.

The area of Usuki city in particular is now focusing on growing organic green tea, away from cross-pollution risks.

With a bountiful nature, amazing waterfalls, hundreds of hot springs, thousands of shrines nested in ancient forests, and beautiful beaches, Oita is a hidden gem in Japan that is off the beaten track.

It is also one of its warmest, so green tea is grown in the mountains, where it is cooler allowing a perfect temperature difference for growing green tea.

THE TEAS OF TAKAHASHI SAN

Organic Products Since 2001

Takahashi san’s tamaryokucha is naturally sweet and has a pure aroma. His skilled team works hard to confer to their green tea a sweet and refreshing taste, with high levels of umami thanks to the longer deep-steamed process (Fukamushi). When opening the tea bags, a fruity taste of mango will make your mouth water in anticipation!

After plucking, the tea leaves are vacuum packed and stored in refrigerators to be transformed, processed and deep-steamed at time of order to guarantee optimum freshness. The tea bags are packed by hand by experienced members of the local community, under perfect sanitary conditions.