Harashima Family Yame Matcha

On a late October afternoon we headed up into the mountains East of Yame district in Fukuoka Prefecture.  At 600m ASL - an area that finds itself covered in snow in the winter - we came across the most beautiful wooden tea house.  An old restaurant it was restored by the Harashima family and is now a place for locals & visitors to enjoy tea alongside a menu inspired by the local region & their family heritage.  The family explained how they opened the Tea House because the consumption of Japanese tea is declining. They welcome guests from all over the world but they are pleased to share that many younger generation come - & this helps their objective of spreading the word about Japanese tea.  And so to the tea.  The family farms 6.5 hectares spread over 15 different plots  The cool weather of the mountains - which are covered with snow in winter - means the tea buds later & the pests are less prevalent.  Fifteen years ago Harashima San started a new cultivation style to allow him to export to new areas.  In 2015 he gained certification for organic tea.  The family employ a unique farming method using hand picked fermented organic fertilizers (bokashi fertilizers) and adjusting each step according to the specific weather conditions of the season or the year

And The hardest part of going organic?  'To make the decision in the first place' Harashima shares. He explains how he didn't have a lot of concerns as if he failed he would try again. This approach is an expression of my heart'

Innovation