I have noticed there are quite a few single-origin matcha teas in our better supermarkets these days. Single-origin matcha is not bad, but it is not actually the best matcha tea. I have visited many tea makers and farmers across Japan, and it is true that the smaller tea makers and farmers often produce single-origin matcha, but this is because they do not have the resources to engage a Chashi (an experienced tea master) to blend the tea leaves and create a special grade of tea.   With the production of the very best matcha, the following process is involved:   The tea leaves are gr ..read more

We’ve also just launched our Spring seasonal Matcha Haru Kasumi, to celebrate the cherry blossom season. It is one of the most popular Spring matcha teas from Marukyu Koyamaen. As you know, Marukyu Koyamaen produce matcha tea and green teas for the Japanese Royal Family, and are one of the most admired tea makers in Japan. Happily, the weather is getting warmer day by day. I will be having an Ohanami with my bento box this weekend, and enjoying the Haru Kasumi. Isn’t it wonderful that there are people who have planted beautiful trees like the cherry blossom for us all to enjoy? And isn’t the b ..read more

Ever since the 18th century, Japanese people have travelled out to many parks and gardens, taking with them bento boxes, so that they can eat under the cherry blossom; something we still do every Spring. According to the Japanese government’s Ministry of Agriculture, Japanese omelette and fish cakes with boiled rice was a popular dish in the 18th century. It seems the menu hasn’t changed much in all those years! Our Mage Wappa bento box has been developed in Japan since the early 10th century. Making them is such a practical and traditional craft! The wood itself has several unique points. As ..read more

At this moment thousands of people in Japan are enjoying the Ohanami (Cherry blossom viewing). The Ohanami dates back to the Heian period (794 to 1185), when aristocrats sang songs and played Kemari (an elegant form of football), while admiring the cherry blossom. Gradually, after that, farmers began to hold parties under the cherry blossom, to pray for a good harvest. Then in the Edo period, in the late 17th century, many ordinary people began to join in, celebrating the cherry blossom, particularly visiting temples and shrines to enjoy the spectacle. In the early 18th century, the eighth Sho ..read more

We are honored that we are working with very best potters from one of the finest ceramic regions Mashiko, Kasama,  Imari, Arita and Karatsu potters. Japanese government’s asked us to promote their art / craft pieces in to the UK. As you might know that Japan’s ceramic regions have completely different clay, process of their own creation. It is my pleasure to visit their workshops to see artists as well as their studios, family members across Japan. It is good to collect vintage and antique stuff and I like these. However, it is important to support living artists ..read more

In the 16th century, Japanese high-ranking samurai were very enthusiastic about the tea ceremony, practicing it and collecting their own beautiful tea pots, tea bowls, lacquer and bamboo ware, calligraphy and poetry etc. As it was a time of war in Japan, they wanted to forget the traumatic memories of the battle field, and comfort themselves in their sadness. The practice of the tea ceremony proved to be a great way to achieve that. Recently, Disney Plus released a new Japanese historical drama called ‘Shogun’. I have been heavily involved in the promotion of that production in London, and I h ..read more

I read an interesting article in the Guardian about the situation in Kyoto, where they are banning tourists from going to the Geisha district because of uncontrollable behaviour. I do have some difficulties about the geishas’ profession, and there might have been very limited work opportunities for women over 100 years ago when it was one of the professions at that time. Nowadays, though, there aren’t many girls who want to be geishas in Japan, and there are many more options to play an independent role as a woman. To be a geisha, girls need to learn traditional dance and the tea ceremony as p ..read more

We have jus launched New Year Special Obuku Cha (Good Fortune Tea) collection from Ippodo and Marukyu Koyamaen Kyoto. This is part of a tradition from Kyoto that goes back to the Heian period (794-1185), people sent Obuku Cha to their friends and relatives when celebrating New Year, and praying for health and happiness. Each tea maker makes a different Good Fortune Tea. Ippodo’s one is always Genmai Cha (green tea with roasted rice), while Marukyu Koyamaen‘s one is a luxury blend of green tea and Gyokuro Tea (the very best green tea). They also produce an Obuku Cha matcha too. It is a wonderfu ..read more

We are pleased to announce that we are launching our very first own branded Keiko Uchida organic teas. On my travels I have been able to visit a great many tea makers and tea farmers across Japan, and tasted so many different teas. Now I think I have finally found two of my favourite, most wonderful tasting organic matcha teas. Ones that I am happy to put my name to. Getting an organic certificate in Japan is an extremely strict procedure, and you can lose your organic certificate very easily because of pollution, from car fumes or the leaking of fertilizer from a neighbour. In fact, there are ..read more

Belated Happy New Year to you! I hope you had a peaceful and wonderful Christmas and New Year. Sadly, we have had a tragic earthquake and air plane accident in Japan at New Year. I visited Kanazawa (near to the source of the earthquake) in November, and I have many friends and suppliers there. Fortunately, they’ve been able to carry on living in their homes without a great deal of damage, but the area and the people they know there have suffered enormously.  I feel very deeply about it, so to support them we are going to try and promote their products in the UK more intensively. It is an ..read more