Fukuoka
Yame-Cha
Yame, located in southwestern Fukuoka in western Japan, is one of Japan's most prestigious luxury tea-producing regions. It has a mild climate and is surrounded by rich nature. It is well known for its luxury gyokuro, and 40% of all Japanese gyokuro is made here. The tea leaves, aromatically rich and wonderfully sweet, have won various awards at numerous tea fairs.
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Tea plantations in Yame
Located in southwestern Fukuoka, an area in western Japan that is mild-climated throughout the seasons, tea plantations in Yame are known as luxury tea-producing regions with ideal environment and climate conditions for growing high-quality tea leaves.
The average elevation is 650-1,000 feet. Blessed by fertile soil and plentiful underground water, the region receives morning fog due to the significant temperature difference. This fog protects tea leaves from strong ultraviolet rays, resulting in tea leaves with emphasized theanine and suppressed catechin.
Yame is a sought-after producing region of luxury gyokuro and Sencha. Gyokuro from Yame is especially well known, as 40% of all gyokuro produced in Japan is made here. It has been awarded the highest Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award twenty years in a row at the Japan Tea Fair and is considered to be of the finest quality in Japan.
The 600th anniversary of the Yame-cha History
Yame-cha was born in 1423, 6 centuries ago. Then a Zen master, Shuzui Eirin, who had learned about zen spirit in China, brought tea seeds and manufacturing technology back to Japan.
Reiganji, a temple situated in Kuroki-cho of Yame City, is said to be the birthplace of Yame-cha, and a celebration is held to commemorate Shuzui Eirin, every year around May 2, when auspicious tea leaves are harvested.
Taste of 2.2%
When they harvest the tea leaves for Yame-cha, they value the weight (or the quality) of the leaves over the quantity, which is called “Ga-Juu-Gata.”
This harvesting method ensures that each leaf is rich in nutrients and taste. However, the quantity harvested will be significantly less compared to other fields.
Yame-cha is especially popular among the highest-quality tea leaves, but it covers only 2.2% of the whole tea leaves available in the market.
Every tea will be history
The Yame-cha, cultivated with morning dew, features richness of umami, sweetness and flavor.
In Japan, the sencha style of tea is enjoyed in daily scenes, and the gyokuro style is preferred in more special occasions.
Particularly, gyokuro made from the tea leaves of this region is undoubtedly the best.
40% of tea leaves for Gyokuro are grown in the Yame region, and such tea leaves have been awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award, which is the most honorable award, at the most prestigious contest in Japan, “Zenkoku Cha Hinpyo-kai” (The national fair of Japanese tea), for 20 consecutive years.
Japan Made
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