This is a very special tea, not only because it is a Uchiyama Family tea, but because it is from only one cultivator. Most green tea is blended. Large tea companies buy raw tea leaves from many tea cultivators and grade them, mix them, put them into production then dry and roll them. This is why each tea company has its own characteristic flavours.

Today it is a very rare experience to enjoy green tea that originates from one cultivator alone. Furthermore, Uchiyama family tea has a very high reputation among the long-term tea customers who come to my boutique. These are very discriminating, demanding tea connoisseurs and their comments about this tea are very flattering.

Now, this tea is available for purchase via the internet, as I wish to share it with those who cannot easily travel to my boutique. Unfortunately, as there is only one supply source, quantities are very limited.

Please enjoy this Uchiyama family tea. (Please feel free to read “Tea and I” on our website, and hopefully you will feel that you are joining me in a tea field in Japan).


UCHIYAMA FAMILY GREEN TEA HISTORY.

One day I asked my 80-year-old father when our ancestors began to grow tea. He replied that he did not know, but he did know that his great-grandfather was growing tea, so the Uchiyama family has been in the tea industry for at least 200 years.

This tea, as well as Gold Tenryu tea (please see item 2, below) is well-known as one of the highest quality green teas in Japan. It is characterized by a deep green colour, a deep aroma and the number of cups that can be steeped from the same tea leaves. It does not lose colour or flavour easily.

My customers often comment that Uchiyama family tea does not grow bitter whether or not it is prepared with the proper water temperature or proper infusion time, and even when left for several hours after infusion. This is the sign of a very high-quality tea.

This may be called a “Wild Samurai tea”: it is good made conventionally (with hot water), or as iced tea. It is very thirst-quenching.