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  Aracha processing by hand

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  Sorting by hand

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  Tea farm work in ancient time

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  Modern Aracha processing machine

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  Sorting by modern facility

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  Modern agricultural techniques such as improvements of fertilizer and mechanization have dramatically improved agricultural productivity.

In this news flash, we would like to compare the productivity of traditional versus modern Japanese green tea growing and processing steps. We’ll point out and compare a few steps below.

After harvest, fresh tea leaves are processed the same day by the tea farmer. These tea leaves are called "Aracha" and their weight is approximately one-fifth that of fresh tea leaves. This processing method was created by Sohen Nagatani in 1738 and then mechanized.
The Japanese green tea processing machine was first invented around 1897, and has continuously been improved. Until that time, fresh tea leaves had been processed by hand. It is said that it was very hard work and one craftworker could process a maximum of only 4 to 6kg (8.82 to 13.23lb) of Aracha per day. In contrast, the average farmer’s factory today can process 200 to 300kg (441 to 662lb) Aracha per day.

Aracha is processed by the farmer, but these tea leaves are not finished. The tea leaves are usually finished later by the wholesale merchant. Aracha is sorted, dried, blended and so on. During the sorting process, Aracha is sorted into leaves, stems, veins, and powder. The sorting process had been done by hand until around 1970. A worker had been able to sort 5 kg to 7 kg (11.0 lb to 15.4 lb) tea leaves per day. A modern sorting facility can sort approximately 200 kg (441 lb) tea leaves per day.

It is said that agricultural productivity has improved exponentially over the last 60 or 70 years. This is all thanks to modern agricultural techniques, improvements of fertilizer, mechanization, and so on.

As above, productivity at every step of the way has dramatically improved. As a result, recently you can enjoy even the highest grade tea like our pinnacle grade, which is on par with teas dedicated to the royal family at an extremely reasonable price, even if you live outside Japan.

Shincha is Now Available

At last, the Shincha Harvest started here in the Uji region! Some of our Shincha items are now available.
We have arranged to add four limited edition Shincha items only available this Shincha harvest season, featuring some regular Sencha items with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor. And other Sencha regular items are planned to be replaced later by Shincha step by step.
Celebrate our first tea harvest of the year with Hibiki-an's Shincha and enjoy the remarkable fresh flavor which can only be experienced once every year!

Limited edition Shincha items

All items below are limited edition of 1,200 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this spring harvest season. We have arranged various types of Shincha, which will be specially finished to enjoy Shincha's refreshing aroma and flavor. For more information regarding each item, please click on the links below. We hope you will enjoy the refreshing aroma and smooth flavor of each Shincha item!

[Limited] Shincha Traditional (80g/2.82oz): US$25.00 (Now Available)
These tea leaves are finished in the traditional Uji/Kyoto style. Therefore the astringent refreshing aroma and mellow flavor are prominent, and the harmony is excellent...

[Limited] Shincha AOTE (80g/2.82oz): US$23.00 (Now Available)
With Shincha AOTE, the astringent refreshing aroma and bitter taste is moderated, the tea color is greener, and the taste is mellower...

[Limited] Shincha Fukamushi (80g/2.82oz): US$21.00 (Now Available)
Saemidori breed brings us pleasure in the springtime, to consider the unique flavor and early-ripening. Enjoy the sweet and smooth taste unique to this tea, as well as the fresh aroma...

[Limited] Farmers' Shincha (160g/5.64oz): US$25.00 (Now Available)
Enjoy the natural taste and refreshing aroma of this "Aracha" Shincha at an affordable price. "Aracha" is unprocessed tea that Japanese farmers have been enjoying for centuries...

[Limited] Shincha Gyokuro (80g/2.82oz): US$23.00 (Now Available)
With our Shincha Gyokuro you can enjoy both the refreshing aroma of Shincha and the mellow smooth taste of Gyokuro in one cup of tea. In the tea industry, it is called "Kabuse Cha"...

Regular Sencha items with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor

We recommed three regular items especially recommended to enjoy Shincha's remarkable refreshing aroma and fresh and smooth flavor!...

[Shincha!] Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz): US$28.00 (Now Available)
Sencha Pinnacle, which is the highest quality Sencha produced in Japan, is the same type of tea which has been presented to the Japanese emperor for many years. This tea is grown at the same tea farm with tea that had been presented to the Japanese Emperor, and harvested in the same way, picked by skilled hands...

[Shincha!] Sencha Super Premium (40g/1.41oz): US$21.00 (Now Available)
This tea is grown at the same tea farm with tea that had been presented to the Japanese Emperor for many hundreds of years, and harvested in the same way, picked by skilled hands. With this special tea, you can enjoy the same Shincha flavor enjoyed by Japanese Emperors...

[Shincha!] Organic Sencha Premium (100g/3.53oz): US$25.00 (Now Available)
Organic Sencha's harvest generally starts 7 to 10 days later than conventional grown Sencha. The feature of the flavor is very simple and traditional. We imagine that the Shincha flavor enjoyed hundreds of years ago in historical Japan was just like this. Would you enjoy the simple Shincha flavor that was enjoyed long, long ago?...