Maker’s Story: Gyokuro Tea from Kyoto by Maikonocha Honpo

When it comes to green tea from Japan, Kyoto stands as the hub of tea culture. Originally introduced by returning Buddhist monks from their travels in China in the 9th century, green tea has woven itself into the fabric of Japanese society as a versatile and healthy drink.

An integral part of Japanese culture, varieties like matcha (抹茶), sencha (煎茶), and gyokuro (玉露) offer diverse flavours and experiences, while traditions such as tea ceremony (茶道 sado) prove that consuming tea does not just bring only health benefits, but also an experience unique to Japanese society.

Video by Maikonocha Honpo

Kyoto-based maker Maikonocha Honpo (舞妓の茶本舗 “MaikoTea”) not only produces high-quality green tea and snacks but also embodies the values associated with this traditional beverage. JAPAN RAIL CLUB is proud to feature two of Maikonocha’s gyokuro tea snacks as part of our mighty selection of matcha in this month’s “So Much Matcha” Omiyage Snack Box.

We spoke with Matsuda-san and Nakabo-san, the sales representatives from Maikonocha Honpo, to learn more about Japanese green tea and their prized products.

Masayasu Tamiya (田宮正康), President of Maikonocha Honpo (L); and MaikoTea’s gyokuro tea leaves (R). | ©Maikonocha Honpo

Matsuda-san, Nakabo-san, it’s great to have you with us today! Please share with us more about the origins of Maikonocha Honpo.

Before Maikonocha Honpo came to exist, our business was initially a tea production wholesaler called “Fugenji Plantations” based in Kyotanabe City (京田辺), Kyoto. Following the award of the top prize from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the National Tea Fair in 1970 (Showa 45) to master tea-grower Toshikazu Yamashita (山下壽一), then the head of our Gyokuro Research Department, we decided to shift from wholesaling to directly selling high-quality green tea, mainly focusing on local Tanabe Gyokuro (田辺玉露). 

This led us to rename our company to a more Kyoto-related name, “Maikonocha Honpo” (MaikoTea). 

In-house green tea production by Maikonocha Honpo | ©Maikonocha Honpo

The foundation of Maikonocha Honpo is rooted fundamentally in tea production. Even in today’s practices, we adhere closely to the old-fashioned production principles inherited from Fugenji Plantation days, striving daily under our corporate policy of “delivering the best tea to our customers”.

Shaded tea fields | ©Maikonocha Honpo

That is fascinating! Tell us more about Gyokuro, and Maikonocha Honpo’s signature brand lines and representative products.

Gyokuro is a refined type of green tea and it is known as a specialty of Kyotanabe City, where our company is located in Kyoto. Gyokuro is made from “Ichibancha” harvested tea leaves, which are the first tea leaves of the year. Compared to sencha, gyokuro boasts a richer aroma and umami taste—the gyokuro tea plants are typically shaded from sunlight for a few weeks before the tea leaves are harvested. This shading technique enhances the amino acid content, particularly L-Theanine, contributing to gyokuro’s distinct flavour profile.

Yashiki no Cha | ©Maikonocha Honpo

Our gyokuro tea products such as “Yashiki no Cha” (屋敷の茶) and “Takumi” (匠) from the signature “Yamashita’s Gyokuro” (山下玉露) range by master tea-grower Toshikazu Yamashita have received numerous awards and media coverage.

Additionally, amidst the recent matcha boom and the increasing demand and availability of matcha-based snacks, we focus on products that differentiate us from our competitors, producing stand-out snacks and confectioneries using our signature gyokuro tea such as “Gyokuro Baumkuchen” (玉露ばーむくうへん) and “Gyokuro Chocolate Okaki” (玉露ちょこおかき).

They definitely sound unique and tasty! Oh, and the Gyokuro Chocolate Okaki is one of the snacks featured in our Omiyage Snack Box this month (May 2024)!! Could you tell us more about that, as well as the other Maikonocha Honpo’s snack in the snack box? 

Certainly!

Gyokuro Chocolate Okaki | © Maikonocha Honpo

Gyokuro Chocolate Okaki (玉露ちょこおかき): Crunchy okaki (rice crackers) are soaked into an elegant blend of gyokuro chocolate, made with white chocolate as well as luxurious powdered gyokuro tea from Kyotanabe, Kyoto. You’d be surprised to know how well the gyokuro tea tastes when paired with chocolate. The combination of the chocolatey gyokuro flavour and the crunchy texture of the okaki makes it an addictive treat.

Additionally, this snack received the Japan Tourism Promotion Association Chairman’s Award at the prestigious NIPPON OMIYAGE AWARD in 2019 (第60回全国推奨観光土産品審査会).

Gyokuro Candy | ©Maikonocha Honpo

Gyokuro Candy (玉露あめ): As I briefly mentioned earlier, Kyotanabe, the city where Maikonocha Honpo is located, is one of the leading gyokuro production centres in Japan. This gyokuro-flavoured candy is the result of being in such an area, boasting a harmonious blend of subtle bitterness and refreshing fragrant tea flavour. This candy is popular for its mild sweetness and can be quite addictive! 

Here’s a fun fact about Gyokuro Candy; as a local specialty of Kyotanabe City, our Gyokuro Candy can be found at the co-ops of Kyotanabe’s local universities, packaged in the universities’ original packaging!

We distribute matcha overseas as well. | ©Maikonocha Honpo

We can’t wait for our overseas friends to try them in this month’s “So Much Matcha” Omiyage Snack Box! Speaking of which, are the tea products from Maikonocha Honpo available overseas?

At Maikonocha Honpo, we handle not only domestic products but also organic teas—for which we have obtained organic certification—for overseas markets, including Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, and neighbouring East Asia. Particularly, organic matcha is exported mainly to European countries. Additionally, we have several staff members dedicated to overseas affairs who can handle international orders.

Shūon-an (Ikkyū-ji) Temple | ©photoAC

That’s great to know! Could you introduce us more about Kyotanabe City, where your company is located? For instance, are there any local attractions that you would like overseas travellers to visit?

Kyotanabe City is located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture, and it is a town with many universities and students, and there are numerous seasonal events held in the community throughout the year.

As you might know, Kyoto is famous for its numerous temples and religious places of interest. Kyotanabe City is famous for the Shūon-an Temple (酬恩庵一休寺) (commonly known as Ikkyū-ji), which is known as the temple of Ikkyu-san, a famous tonchi (wit) poet and Zen Buddhist monk, as well as the eleven-faced Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Mercy) at Omidou Kannonji Temple (大御堂観音寺), which has been designated as a national treasure.

Maikonocha Honpo’s Main Store in Kyotanabe | ©Maikonocha Honpo

Where is your main store located in Kyoto? This information would be helpful for our friends who wish to visit Maikonocha Honpo’s store directly during their visit to Kyoto!

Our main store (舞妓の茶本舗 本店) is located at 2-1 Kamidaimon, Fugenji, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto 610-0322 (〒610-0322 京都府京田辺市普賢寺上大門2-1), and we look forward to welcoming you! 

One of Maikonocha Honpo’s tea plantations | ©Maikonocha Honpo

Thank you both for your time and sharing with us more about Maikonocha Honpo! Do you have any parting message to our readers at JAPAN RAIL CLUB?

We are happy to share that the number of international tourists to Kyoto continues to rise every year. While Kyoto City has long been a magnet for tourists due to its central location, there has been a noticeable increase in visitors exploring the surrounding towns and villages in recent years. Kyoto is renowned worldwide for its historical temples, natural beauty, and various tourist attractions, but Kyoto is also gaining recognition for its delicious delicacies and drinks, with tea-based sweets being particularly popular.

At Maikonocha Honpo, we have a wide selection of sweets and snacks made with tea, so we hope that you visit us and consider our products as cherished souvenirs for your loved ones.

Look forward to tasting the delectable “Gyokuro Chocolate Okaki” and “Gyokuro Candy” 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!