Hyper-premium organic matcha, the quintessence of organic matcha

In my quest to offer the best organic matcha, I met Nishi-san: Japan's star organic matcha farmer. His thing is pushing the limits of matcha perfection in organic farming.

This is Nishi-san's finest creation: the most luxurious and exclusive organic matcha I have ever discovered. It comes in a box comparable to the finest grand cru wines: you open it for a special occasion, a beautiful moment to share, and you remember it...

Nishi-san's family has been producing matcha for three generations. He is a celebrity in the organic tea world for his exceptional quality tencha. His fields are located in Kirishima, in the southernmost part of Japan, on the edge of an active volcano.

I deeply admire Nishi-san's obsession with perfection: his goal is to push the boundaries of organic farming and produce tea of a superior quality to that obtained through conventional farming methods.

Taste a green diamond

This hyper-premium organic matcha is exceptional. I reserve a magical moment or special occasion for a tasting. It is a unique matcha tea that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.

Tasting is a symphony for the taste buds, an orchestra of flavours, a culinary journey, a work of art to be savored.

To prepare usucha matcha tea, use 1 to 2 grams of matcha powder for 80mL of hot water.

This hyper-premium organic matcha is so exceptional that it can be enjoyed as koicha, i.e. in a thick preparation: 3-6g of powder for 20-30mL of hot water. Try it to experience the full aroma of this exceptional matcha 🍵

The volcanic terroir of Kirishima

Nishi-san has selected five of his best tea plots located in the mountainous region of Kirishima.

It is a volcanic region, where the ashes of the Kirishima volcano play a central role in tea cultivation by settling in the tea fields following the frequent eruptions of this active volcano.

Here it is, having even woken up with a column of ash during one of my visits:

This provides an excellent natural fertilizer that brings a lot of energy to the soil and tea plants.

Click on the play button to discover the volcanic terroir of Nishi-san (5 min 30 sec).

A secret formula for an explosion of umami

To achieve such quality, Nishi-san chose to create a blend, as a tea master would do in the world of champagne. He uses several cultivars or "grape varieties" of tea plants to enhance the advantages of each cultivar used. 

Nishi-san has chosen to keep his formula secret, but he was kind enough to reveal that the most prevalent cultivar in his blend is Saemidori.

This is a variety of tea registered in 1990. It is usually harvested earlier than Yabukita. Its leaves are very vibrant green and shiny, have a slight bitterness, and are rich in umami.

Careful production with attention to every detail.

Nishi-san uses special covers when covering his tea, about 3 to 6 weeks before harvest. Instead of opting for the usual black covers, he uses silver covers that reflect light without retaining heat.

Click on the play button to start the video (3 min 13 sec) - Mai 2017

Another guarantee of quality is that Nishi-san only harvests once a year. After the harvest, the plants are cut back to prepare the tea plants for the next harvest the following year.

The tea leaves are washed with spring water. 

Nishi-san uses spring water from the surrounding mountains to wash the freshly harvested tea leaves. Large bubbles can be viewed in the video. These are not soap bubbles, but simply dust and impurities forming bubbles. 

 Click on the play button to start the video (1 min 29 sec) - May 2018

Finally, he prepares the tea in his cooperative's factory. 

Click on the play button to learn more about how tea is made (11 min 4 sec).

In this short video, I introduce you to Nishi-san, who shares his philosophy on organic matcha tea. 

Click on the play button to view the interview with Nishi-san (3 min 16 sec).

A risky bet

I visit Nishi-san every year to taste the new harvest and to thank him for being one of our partner farmers.

I also show him recent reviews from the community about his matcha.

In 2016, Nishi-san let me taste his new creation: a quality even superior to our excellent ultra-premium organic premium matcha tea.

Unfortunately, he couldn't offer me any, as he only had a very small quantity that he reserved for his most discerning customers in Japan.

Since I found out, I have asked him every year, and for the first time, in 2020, he agreed to reserve part of his harvest each year for our Kumiko Matcha community.

In the world of organic matcha tea in Japan, Nishi-san is already something of a star, and with this new hyper-premium organic matcha, we have achieved a level of quality that ranks among the best matcha in the world, which is almost unreal in organic farming.

I would also like to share with you that, for me, this hyper-premium organic matcha is a risky venture.

At first, I wasn't sure that ultra-premium organic premium matcha would work well given its quality and price. But in the end, many of us in the community appreciate it.

This hyper-premium product is even more luxurious and "delicious." It is a treasure in powder form. It is the quintessence of matcha tea. A work of art that I am proud to offer you at Kumiko Matcha.

A highly personalized design for the box

When imagining the design for this tin, I was inspired by the works of Sanda from Broken isn't bad. 

Below, from left to right, you can view her logo "broken isn't bad," then the design of my 2019 tattoo, which was the year of romantic connection for me (I get one tattoo per year based on the theme of my year) — and the illustration that Sanda drew, inspired by this hyper-premium organic matcha.

I am very attached to hyper-premium organic matcha, and I am proud to be able to offer it to the community. That's why I asked Sanda to put her art on the box so that the container would match the contents. Art inside and out.

Here is the artist's vision for this illustration:

Sexuality plays a big role in human life, especially in art and culture. For me, it's about revealing your inner self and showing your vulnerabilities, while considering them as a strength. Most of my illustrations depict naked women, and I try to mix eroticism, familiarity, and surrealism—to show that we are much more than skin and bones. 

With my illustrations, I try to help women find their inner strength, admire their bodies, and love their imperfections to create a positive relationship with themselves (or their partners).

The result is this hyper-premium organic matcha, which is the most luxurious and exclusive I have ever discovered. It comes in a box comparable to the finest grand cru wines: you open it for a special occasion, a beautiful moment to share, and you remember it...

Nishi-san and I wish you an excellent tasting experience!

Summary

• hyper-premium organic matcha tea
• From the unique and exceptional terroir of farmer Nishi-san.
• Net weight: 30 grams
• Use 1g per cup (and more depending on the preparation method).
• organic farming, origin Japan
• 2024 harvest vintage
• Recommended best before date: 08.2026 (bundle 352053)
• Store in the refrigerator.
• Reusable and recyclable tin box.