About this tea

宝寿 “Houju” means “Happy Treasure” and it is the most precious Uji matcha produced by our friend Hisaki Horii who is an 8th generation gyokuro and matcha producer. He is running his family’s Uji, Kyoto-based tea business Hekisuien, which was established in 1867. Only the highest quality hand-picked tencha from the Joyo area of Uji are selected to create this premium matcha. Mr. Horii’s philosophy and specialization is not focused on single cultivar or single farm origins but on blending various cultivars of exceptional quality and richness. Mr. Horii’s matcha blends are outstanding examples of how an artisan tea master’s blend is often greater than the sum of the individual lots. His matcha follows traditional vintage aging and blending practices. Each year his allocations are using different materials and vintages while his expression is consistently amazing. His style of producing high-end matcha and gyokuro utilizes only local Uji cultivars that are hand-picked and shaded by tana frame-and-thatch. The vivid depth of blue-green seen in this matcha shows the meticulous cultivation and care of production. The energy of this matcha is high and heady with a special floral vibrancy and vanilla cream taste. Houju Matcha is really a treasure and the most premium matcha we offer.