Makinohara Tea Garden The Original Land of Fukamushi
- susumu82
- 2024年8月26日
- 読了時間: 2分
Makinohara, known as the birthplace of Fukamushi (deep-steamed) tea, is not just a historical location but also the land where I grew up. Situated on a well-ventilated plateau, Makinohara benefits from a mild climate, the longest sunlight hours in Japan, and well-drained soil—perfect conditions for tea cultivation that began in the mid-19th century.
The Samurai’s Tea
During this era, Japan was still a country of samurai, but as times changed, these warriors needed new livelihoods. They traded their swords for farming tools and began to cultivate the undeveloped lands of Makinohara, turning them into tea gardens. Today, many of the existing tea farms and farmers in the region are descendants of these pioneering samurai.
中條景昭 Kageaki Chujyo
Leader of the Makinohara Tea Garden Development, former swordsmanship instructor for the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The Invention of Fukamushi Tea
In Makinohara, where the long hours of sunlight result in thick, robust tea leaves, spring brings forth leaves that are rich and sturdy. Exposure to sunlight converts the amino acids in the leaves into catechins, resulting in a tea with a pronounced bitterness. To counter this, the technique of deep steaming was developed—steaming the leaves for nearly twice the usual time. This method softens the bitterness, creating a smooth, rich flavor profile. Fukamushi tea quickly gained popularity throughout Japan and is now one of the most widely consumed teas. The ingenuity of our ancestors, who turned challenges into strengths, is truly admirable.
Steamed by high-temperature steam and longer time to remove the green bitterness and achieve a smooth, mellow finish.
Challenges of Organic Farming in Makinohara
Despite its rich history, Makinohara faces significant challenges. The area is home to many small, family-run tea farms, often closely intertwined with neighboring plots. This proximity makes it difficult to maintain organic farming practices in isolation. The risk of spreading pests or diseases to surrounding conventional farms, or the drift of pesticides from those farms into organic fields, poses significant obstacles. While the land and history of Makinohara are first-class, the region’s agricultural structure is not always conducive to organic farming.
The Miraculous Tea Garden on the Cliffside
At Urushibata Tea, our Fukamushi tea is cultivated in a tea garden carved into a mountainside, completely isolated from the outside world. We practice the traditional tea-grass mulch farming method and have maintained organic farming for many years, creating a stable environment for our tea plants. Various areas of the tea garden are left as wild grasslands to encourage the breeding of beneficial insects.
Experience the Original Fukamushi Tea
Despite the high quality of Makinohara’s Fukamushi tea, it has rarely been available internationally due to the challenges of organic farming in the region. Now, with Sencha Fukamushi The Original, you can savor the deep flavors born from this rich history and unique land.
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