Special features in location, cultivation & processing
For those drawn to Japan’s rich history and spiritual traditions, Nara Prefecture is a place of great intrigue. Sheltered inland and close to the Seto Inland Sea, it has long been central to the nation’s political and religious life. Its golden age came in the 7th and 8th centuries, when it served as the Imperial capital of the first unified Japanese nation state, whose government was built upon the newly introduced Buddhism and Confucian principles from China.
Yet it is not only the countless temples, some of which are more than 1,000 years old, nor the ancient palace ruins or archaic burial mounds that lend Nara its mystical aura. The entire prefecture seems to radiate a quiet, almost timeless atmosphere. Gentle mountain ranges, dense forests and ancient pathways weave through the landscape, inspiring pilgrims, monks, and poets for centuries.
Nara has also played an important role in Japan's tea culture: in the remote valleys and mountain villages of the prefecture, an independent, rural tea tradition developed, far from major centres of production such as Uji or Shizuoka. Here, where the climate is harsher and harvests are smaller, teas of strong character emerged – less focused on elegance and more on authenticity and everyday enjoyment. Collectively, these teas became known as "Yamato-cha" (大和茶; Yamato being an ancient name for Nara and Japan).
The red clay soils and marked temperature differences between day and night give the leaves a deep, intense aromatic profile. Many families have preserved their own cultivation and roasting methods over generations, allowing a wide range of rural tea specialities to develop in Nara. From simply steamed Sencha to the rustic roasted varieties once enjoyed daily by villagers, these are original, unpretentious teas, grown in harmony with nature and exuding a quiet depth in their simplicity. While many of these traditional teas are at risk of fading into obscurity due to the sharp decline in tea cultivation, it is passionate and innovative farmers like our farmer couple who keep these unique regional treasures alive.
Single Origin
This tea comes 100% from the above-mentioned tea field in Yamazoe, sourced directly from the tea farmer.
