Hiroki Matsumoto, the young farmer at Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden is always challenging himself to create unique and unusual teas. His inspiration comes from the fact that many tea farmers around him in Shizuoka (perhaps, the best known prefecture for tea in Japan) are already making very good and high quality tea. While the focus of the generations before him was to sell cultivated tea to wholesalers, during his time as a tea farmer, Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden began to make their own products, which allowed Matsumoto-san to directly interact with customers (i.e., the people who drink his tea). These interactions shifted something in him as began thinking about creating his own style of tea, one which wasn’t limited by the labels placed as Shizuoka-cha or Shimada-cha. 

The hinoki japanese cypress wood smoked black tea is one of these innovative teas from Matsumoto-san. As the name describes, this is a Japanese black tea that was smoked with wood from hinoki (i.e., Japanese cypress trees). While the smokiness will be evident, it is not overpowering. For instance, it will be milder in comparison to the famous Chinese smoked black tea (Lapsang souchong). This is a top quality Japanese black tea that is sure to surprise you with a powerful but sweet aroma and taste. Please note that no flavorings or additives are used.

Please note that all aspects of the production at Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden adhere to the environmental conservation cultivation method world renown as GIAHS (i.e., Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System). Therefore, tea bushes are cultivated in the traditional Japanese chagusaba method where grass is used as mulch to protect and flavor the tea leaves. Please note that no flavorings and additives have been used. 

Product Info

• Name: Hinoki Japanese Cypress Wood Smoked Black Tea
• Japanese name: 燻製紅茶
• Ingredients: Black tea 
• Region: Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture

Producer info

• Name: Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden
• Type: Family business, tea farm & factory
• Location: 1806-21 Kiriyama, Shimada-shi, Shizuoka-ken 428-0035