Konnichiwa from Tai-an Tea Co.
Our Premium Seijaku organic Matcha is harvested in the mountainside of Ujitawara, Kyoto Japan. This was the very first tea production town in Japan centuries ago. It is still the most sought after organic Matcha in all of Japan.
We want share some simple harvesting differences between Organic and non-organic Matcha. In a non-organic tea farm, farmers are allowed to use chemicals and pesticides to harvest Matcha.
Why do some farmers use chemicals or pesticides?
- Short harvest time
- beautiful tea leaves - (Chemical layers)
- Kills all living organisms near the plant
- Weeds cannot survive - (less work for farmers)
- Saves money
None of them are in order but as you can see the idea of non-organic is appealing.
What do farmers use for organic Farming ?
- No Chemicals, no GMO's, no pesticides or anything added to preserve the plant
- longer harvest times- about 30% longer
- Relies on spiders and snakes to kill off unwanted bugs who eat the tea leaves
- Weeds are a constant problem for farmers. Must cut everyday, year around but especially during spring time.
- Expensive
- harder to control quality of the leaves
- Uses organic natural fertilizers only
- Entire process from the soil, harvest, shipping, and to your cup must be organic.
- If your farm has organic plants, non-organic plants cannot be harvested.
- Only grown high the mountains to allow the freshest, cleanest air, balanced climate, and location near streams and rivers. Without chemicals and pesticides, tea plants must get nutrients from rivers and streams.
- Organic Farms have only a hand full of famers that work on a daily basis because of strict guidelines with USDA and JAS organic organizations.
The 2 photos attached give an example of what a organic tea plant looks like. Between the tea bushes, you can see weeds and unwanted grass sprouting. This happens because our farm use only 100% organic natural fertilizers.
Some farms use machines to cut unwanted grass and weeds to make a walkway for the farmers. Our farm in Ujitawara uses only their hands to take out weeds and grass.
Another amazing fact about our farm is that our premium Seijaku Matcha is also picked my hand. Thats right! Each tea leaf is hand plucked by the tea farmers. The tea master does not use machinery because of the chemicals released when the motor is running.
Here at Tai-an Tea Co. we truly have the utmost respect for organic farming. It is such difficult process and these famers deserve so much more credit than they are given.
For more info on organic Matcha, please visit:
Taian-tea.com
Your Matcha Family,
Tai-an Tea Co.
(Note: the black covering of the plants happens 3 weeks before harvest to block 90% of the sunlight. In return, we have beautiful rich green tea leaves full of antioxidants and phytonutrients.)