The Mountain Artisan: The Organic Vision of Our Tea Partner in Miyazaki
Nestled high in the rugged, mountainous region of Gokase in Miyazaki Prefecture, the tea farm is a place where tradition meets unyielding dedication. Guided by the visionary tea farmer Akira Miyazaki, this historic estate represents the absolute pinnacle of artisanal Japanese tea making. We are incredibly honored to partner with Miyazaki-san, whose commitment to the earth and the craft brings some of the most vibrant, soul-nourishing teas to us.
Why Organic Farming?
40 years ago, the Miyazaki family made a profound and difficult decision. After tragically losing a close family friend to the effects of agricultural pesticides, they became one of the very first farms in Japan to transition entirely to organic cultivation.
At the time, neighbouring farmers warned them of kuroshi, a Japanese term for dying from exhaustion, because organic farming in the mountains is notoriously labor-intensive and demanding. But they persevered. Today, their unyielding dedication has earned them the prestigious Emperor’s Award and the Japan Agricultural Ministry Prize. More beautifully, their success has inspired a thriving, supportive community of organic farmers throughout the region. Their tea is grown without a single drop of chemical fertilizer or pesticide, ensuring every cup is a pure, clean expression of nature.
How Does the Mountain Terroir of Gokase Shape the Tea?
The steep, high-altitude landscape of Gokase is breathtaking, but it demands incredible physical effort. The terrain is so rugged that heavy riding machinery cannot be used; instead, the team relies on small, hand-held harvesting machines. This intimate, hands-on connection with the tea bushes results in a meticulously cared-for harvest. The mountain climate, with its dramatic temperature shifts and rich soil, creates the perfect environment for the highly aromatic, expressive tea leaves.
The Art of Artisan Experimentation
What makes Akira Miyazaki a true master of his craft is his relentless curiosity. He utilizes processing machines that are half the size of modern industry standards, allowing for incredibly precise, small-batch crafting.
Beyond his traditional Kamairicha, Miyazaki-san is a pioneer of unique flavour profiles. He crafts exceptional organic black teas (Wakoucha) that are naturally sweet and floral, and complex Oolongs that undergo a meticulous 13-hour oxidation process to coax out explosive floral aromas. He even invented a remarkably unique Hojicha, roasting summer tea stems at an unusually low temperature (145ºC instead of the standard 180ºC) simply because he noticed the sweet, floral scent of the freshly cut stems in the field and wanted to capture it in a cup.
Every tea crafted is a testament to the harmony between human touch and the natural world. When you brew a cup of their tea, you are not just tasting leaves and water, you are tasting the resilience of the earth and the quiet magic of true artisan craftsmanship.
