Maker’s Story: Premium Matcha Products from Uji, Kyoto by Kyoeiseicha

This May, JAPAN RAIL CLUB celebrates the joy that matcha brings to our lives with the special “So Much Matcha” Omiyage Snack Box. May marks the start of the traditional tea spring season and the early May is known as “hachiju hachiya” (八十八夜), which means the 88th night – a special day in the Japanese lunar calendar when farmers can begin to pick tea leaves.  

With a nearly 900-year long history, Uji (宇治) in Kyoto Prefecture is one of the top green tea growing regions in Japan as it is renowned for producing premium quality tea and matcha. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), matcha produced in Uji was of extremely high value, mainly supplied to shoguns, feudal lords, court nobles, senior warriors, and temples.

Today, Uji is still a thriving historical tea town with many teahouses and traditional tea gardens remaining in the area.

In this month of matcha, we are honoured to feature popular matcha snacks from tea manufacturer Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd. (共栄製茶株式会社) and their representative brand Morihan (森半). We had an enriching chat with Ms. Okamoto (岡本), Morihan EC Sales Representative, to learn more about their famous tea products. 

Premium tea grown in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Hi Okamoto san, thanks for your time! Can you share more about Kyoeiseicha?

Founded in 1836 in Uji, the company is committed to refining the quality of Japanese tea and preserving tea culture. As we are based in Uji, one of Japan’s top tea-growing regions and renowned for producing premium matcha (抹茶) and gyokuro (玉露), we have been developing our business in tandem with the evolving history of Japanese tea. 

The behind-the-scenes images of creating premium matcha from Uji, Kyoto | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd. 

We specialise in Japanese tea, matcha, dry-mix powder products, and matcha sweets. While we are focused on perfecting our traditional tea products, we are innovating constantly so that we can create new products to cater to our growing customer base. 

For instance, in the early 1900s, our company began selling “Koori-cha” (氷茶), the predecessor of cold brew green tea, and “Sweetened Green Tea” (グリーンティー), a local drink in the Kansai region. Since then, we have also produced and sold the world’s first foamy matcha au lait (抹茶オーレ), acquired international certifications, and recently opened a tea theme park called TEA SQUARE MORIHAN.

What a long history and strong commitment dedicated to tea culture! What are your company’s main brands and products?

Our main brand is Morihan (森半) and we have a range of products that represents our dedication to bringing the best quality tea to our customers regardless of demographic. Let me introduce some of our top-selling products. 

Morihan’s Assortment of Famous Teas from Uji – Kozanji | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Firstly, Morihan’s Assortment of Premium Teas from Uji – Kozanji (森半 <宇治> 名品銘茶詰め合わせ(高山寺)) showcases top-grade gyokuro and sencha (煎茶) tea leaves. Located in the west of Kyoto City, Kozanji is believed to be the first tea cultivation site in Japan and it is known for producing highly sought after tea leaves. This luxurious selection makes a perfect gift for that special someone. 

Uji Matcha “Dokodemo Matcha” Stick Drink| © Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Matcha lovers’ favourite product is the Uji Matcha stick “Dokodemo Matcha” (宇治抹茶スティック どこでも抹茶). You can enjoy Matcha drink anywhere and anytime. You can also use this powder in your cooking and baking. 

CHASTA teapot | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Our best-selling tea set is the CHASTA teapot. The lightweight teapot has a special simple symmetrical shape that allows you to pour tea elegantly and clean it easily. CHASTA teapot is a must-have for all tea-drinking enthusiasts! 

We are excited to try your products! What about the products featured in this month’s matcha-themed Omiyage Snack Box? 

We are proud to share three popular products in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s “So Much Matcha” Omiyage Snack Box:

Matcha Cream Sandwich Cookie Waffle | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Matcha Cream Sandwich Cookie Waffle (クリームサンド 抹茶ヴァッフェル)

This delightful snack is made of crispy wave-shaped cookie dough and moist matcha cream that will melt in your mouth. Elevate your teatime with this matcha snack that goes well with tea. 

Matcha Crystal Candy | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Matcha Crystal Candy (抹茶水晶飴 －本地釜仕上げ－)

Crafted by local artisans of Kyoto-style confectionery, matcha crystal candy is a new type of sweet made by the finest sugar and malt syrup in local kettles. The best part of the candy is the rich matcha filling. When you put the candy in your mouth, you can taste the matcha essence with a hint of aromatic bitterness.

Genmaicha with Matcha Teabag | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Genmaicha (Sencha with Roasted Brown Rice) with Matcha Teabag (宇治抹茶入り玄米茶)

You can enjoy the harmonious blend of fragrant green tea and toasty roasted rice. 

The pyramid shape of the tea bag allows the tea leaves to spread out inside, ensuring thorough extraction.

We know that Uji matcha is famous. What are the highlights of your company and tea products that our readers should know?

Tea leaves selected by tea masters | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

The matcha used in “So Much Matcha” Omiyage Snack Box is all “UJI Matcha”, which is the most respected regional tea brand. Our tea master is a two-time winner of the National Tea Qualify Judging Skills Competition (全国茶審査技術競技大会). With tea materials selected by the tea master, our company continuously produces high quality Japanese tea by implementing new technologies to improve our processes. 

We believe in the importance of supporting the tea agriculture ecosystem, so we form partnerships with farmers and other stakeholders to produce high quality products and create value-added benefits. As we embrace the tea culture and traditions, we also focus on sustainability for our business development. We are spearheading sustainable initiatives and expanding the range of our products that use environmentally friendly materials. 

CHASTA, one of Kyoeiseicha’s popular range of tea products | © Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

With our international food safety certification, we can assure the safety of our products. We place great emphasis on food quality and safety during the production of our products. We strive to source organic raw materials and use local ingredients.

What is one place in Uji that you would recommend for first-time visitors to the area?

TEA SQUARE MORIHAN | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

I would like to recommend Uji’s new attraction, TEA SQUARE MORIHAN. This historical tea house is injected with a new lease of life after extensive renovations. Since its opening in June 2023, it has attracted local and international visitors who are keen to find out more about Uji matcha and try various tea products. 

Matcha and hojicha snacks | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

The aesthetically pleasing complex encourages visitors to immerse in the world of tea. The cosy Kura Café (蔵カフェ) is tucked in the corner of the building and you can enjoy sipping freshly made matcha and hōjicha (roasted green tea) sweets while watching the tea brewing process. 

The newly opened “TEA SQUARE MORIHAN” tea facility allows you to experience Japan’s tea culture with all five senses | © Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

The tea house is also converted into a mini museum with its display of tea leaves so you can learn more about the tea and products you are enjoying. 

The beautifully thought-out space of TEA SQUARE MORIHAN | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

TEA SQUARE MORIHAN is just a 10-minute walk from Ogura Station (小倉駅) on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line and a 15-minute walk from JR Ogura Station on the JR Nara Line. Parking spaces are available. 

TEA SQUARE MORIHAN
Address: 78 Kubo, Ogura-cho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0042
Opening hours: 09:30–17:30 (Closed on Sundays)

Kura Café: 10:00–17:00 (Last order 16:30)
Confectionery shop and retail store: 10:00-17:00

Premium tea leaves from tea plantations in Uji | ©Kyoeiseicha Co., Ltd.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful tea products with us! Lastly, do you have any message for our JAPAN RAIL CLUB readers and members?

Japanese tea and matcha is an important part of Japanese culture and different regions in Japan produce a wide variety of tea. The different types of tea are grown using varied cultivation methods to adapt to each region’s climate and landscape. If you have the chance to visit different regions in Japan, you can taste different varieties of tea and matcha, their distinctive flavour profiles, and discover your favourite tea.

We welcome you to visit Uji when you are in Japan as you can experience the unique environment that produces Japanese tea. Please stop by our newly opened tea theme park, TEA SQUARE MORIHAN, which offers a unique tea cultural experience where you can truly savour the deliciousness of Japanese tea and Uji matcha through crafted beverages and confectionery. We hope you’ll spend a relaxing time with your family and friends while indulging in our tea products, and we eagerly await your visit.

May your days be filled with matcha this May! Look out for three of Kyoeiseicha’s snacks from their main brand Morihan — “Matcha Crystal Candy”, “Matcha Cream Sandwich Cookie Waffle”, and “Genmaicha with Matcha Teabag” — in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s May 2024 Omiyage Snack Box “So Much Matcha”. Subscribe today to try these made-in-Kyoto treats and other delicious matcha snacks from Japan!