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A commitment to growing and producing our own produce.
The charm of "Ise Tea"
We deliver directly from the producer.
Mie Prefecture has a long history of tea cultivation.
This region is the third largest tea-producing area in Japan in terms of cultivated area and production volume.
Taki-cho Nyu, where Kawahara Tea's tea plantation and factory are located
There is a large temperature difference between day and night, and high quality
The cultivation of deep-steamed tea is thriving.
Tea leaves grown by contract farmers at the same time
The tea leaves grown with care in our own tea plantations,
We have a manufacturing system in place where we complete the products in our own factory.
Everything is for our customers; we will continue to pursue excellence in tea making.
We will deliver safe and secure tea to you.
▶Learn more about Kawahara Tea◀
Deep-steamed Ise tea from Mie Prefecture, grown in our own tea plantation.
A tea farm established in 1883, cultivating and delivering Ise tea.
Kawahara Seicha Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Taki-cho, Taki-gun, Mie Prefecture. Founded in 1883 (Meiji 16) as a tea farm, it has been involved in the production of "Ise Tea," a specialty product of Mie Prefecture, for many years.
A key characteristic of this company is its "in-house cultivation and in-house processing" system, which involves cultivating tea leaves in its own tea plantations, processing and finishing the tea in its own factory, and handling sales in-house.
Currently, in addition to managing its own tea plantation of approximately 7 hectares, the company also produces tea leaves in cooperation with contract farmers in the neighborhood. They are involved in tea production from the cultivation and soil preparation stages, rather than simply purchasing and selling tea leaves.
The appeal of Ise tea, a specialty product of Mie Prefecture.
Ise tea is a general term for tea produced in Mie Prefecture. Mie Prefecture has long been a region where tea cultivation thrives, and Taki-cho Nyu, where Kawahara Tea's tea plantations and factory are located, is known as a producer of high-quality tea.
The company is focusing on deep-steamed sencha. By steaming the tea leaves for a longer time than typical sencha, the bitterness of the tea leaves is suppressed, resulting in a mellow and rich flavor.
Kawahara Seicha's deep-steamed sencha is characterized by its rich umami flavor and aroma. It's perfect for those who want to fully enjoy the taste of tea.
Ise tea may not be as well-known nationwide as Shizuoka tea or Uji tea. However, the tea cultivated by local tea farmers has a unique flavor that is specific to that region.
A tea plantation that is particular about soil preparation.
Making delicious tea begins with preparing the soil before the tea leaves are picked.
At Kawahara Tea, we minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and focus on soil preparation primarily using organic fertilizers. We also prioritize creating an environment where earthworms and microorganisms can thrive by incorporating air into the tea plantation soil.
Through this management process, we aim to cultivate tea leaves with thick flesh and a rich flavor.
Furthermore, the company handles not only tea leaves from its own tea plantations but also tea leaves grown by contract farmers in the surrounding area. By working in cooperation with producers, they have established a system to deliver tea of consistent quality.
Small-batch processing and unique finishing techniques
The picked tea leaves go through processes such as steaming, rolling, and drying to become "crude tea." From there, further finishing processes such as drying, sorting, and blending are carried out to create the tea that we buy.
At Kawahara Tea, we handle everything from quality control and finishing to shipping in our own factory. A distinctive feature is our commitment to producing Ise tea that preserves freshness and flavor by roasting and processing tea leaves in small batches.
While carrying on traditional tea-making methods, we also focus on manufacturing equipment and quality control. As a long-established tea farm, we continuously strive to deliver consistent quality.
Tea production compliant with organic JAS standards
Kawahara Tea Co., Ltd. received certification as an organic agricultural product processor in 2004 and has since been engaged in the processing and sale of products using organically grown tea leaves.
Tea that conforms to the Organic JAS standard must be managed according to strict production and processing standards, separate from tea leaves grown using conventional methods. The company also sources pesticide-free tea leaves from contract farmers and processes and sells them.
However, not all products handled by Kawahara Tea are organically grown. When choosing organic tea, be sure to check the organic JAS mark and ingredient list for each product.
Ise tea, recognized as a Mie brand product.
Kawahara Seicha was selected as a certified Mie Brand business in 2003. The Mie Brand is a system in which the prefecture certifies products and producers that utilize the unique characteristics of the region, such as the nature and traditions of Mie Prefecture.
For this company, which has been continuously working to convey the quality and regional characteristics of Ise tea, this certification can be considered one of its achievements.
Our product range is extensive, primarily focusing on deep-steamed sencha, but also including gyokuro, stem tea, genmaicha, hojicha, powdered green tea, and matcha. We cater to a variety of tastes, from everyday tea to gifts.