Tagashira Tea’s family secret blend is made from carefully selected fleshy tea leaves with a combination of a uniquely deep-steamed processing and artisanal high temperature roasting.
Every year at the start of the leaf-picking season, April and May, we travel with our tea master across the country in search of the tea leaves that meet our high standards. We roast tea leaves from each farm one at a time, and then mix four to ten different types of leaves, making an aromatic, dark green and rich-flavored tea.
4 Core Commitments of Tagashirachaten, Ltd.
- Steaming
The method of steaming after tea leaves are picked largely determines the tea’s taste, aroma,and color. By steaming the leaves two to three times longer than for regular sencha, we achieve a rich green color, a mellow taste,and enhanced umami and sweetness.
- Tea Leaves
We use thick, robust tea leaves suited to our deep-steaming and high-temperature firing process. Only first-harvest tea leaves,rich in nutrients from the winter season, are selected. We carefully source our leaves from trusted partner farms in Shizuoka Prefecture,Kagoshima Prefecture, Yame City, and Uji City.
- Firing
To overcome the common challenge of deep-steamed tea having a weaker aroma, our "Kisaku" tea undergoes high-temperature firing at over 120°C. This process enhances both the sweetness and aroma of the tea.
- Tea Bags
We useafine-mesh, pyramid-shaped tea bag filled with whole tea leaves. This design allows the leaves to "hop," releasing a flavor and aroma comparable to tea brewed in a teapot.