Matcha is a special type of Japanese green tea: a precious, jewel-green powder stone ground from shaded, hand-picked, high-grade Japanese tea leaves. It is traditionally whisked with hot water in a bowl to make a rich, creamy drink.
This producer, Marukyu-Koyamaen, first began production of tea in the Genroku period (1688–1704) in Ogura, Uji. Through subsequent generations, the quality of the tea increased, thus establishing the venerable tradition of Ujicha; by the eighth generation, the market had been extended to all of Japan. A standard of high quality, consistent from cultivation to the final product, was achieved, and the company—still family-owned—remains highly esteemed. Marukyu-Koyamaen now ranks among the foremost producers of matcha in Japan, and has won many national prizes.
