Many years ago in Japan, tea leaves were stored in a special ceramic jar for Kuradashi Matcha like the below pictures at early summer around June or July after the Matcha harvest was completely finished. The tea leaves stored in the jar are known as Tencha: tea leaves before being ground into the fine powder of Matcha. The jar was carefully stored following a specific process in order for the tea leaves to enrich and age in good condition. The jar was opened at Kuchikiri no Gi, a tea ceremony in mid autumn. Above is a series of the ceremony of Kuradashi Matcha.

- First, Tencha tea leaves (*) for the highest grade Matcha, like our Kuradashi Matcha Pinnacle or Super Premium, were packaged in a bag made with Washi paper.
- The package was put into the jar in which Tencha (*) for high grade Matcha was stored.
- Then the jar was filled with Tencha (*) the high grade Matcha, like our Kuradashi Matcha Premium. And the mouth of the jar was sealed off with Washi paper and Japanese paste.
(*) Tencha: tea leaves before being ground into the fine powder of Matcha

In a small WASHI Japanese paper bag, as in the below picture, 20g (0.71oz) of the highest grade Matcha (for KOICHA / Thick Matcha) was packaged. Two or three of the WASHI Japanese paper bags package 20g of the highest grade Matcha and about 600g (21.26oz) of middle grade Matcha (for USUCHA / Thin Matcha) traditionally was placed in the jar. The amount was enough to serve KOICHA at approximately six tea ceremonies and to prepare 340 bowls of USUCHA. Certainly the tea masters cherished the jar of Kuradashi Matcha throughout the year. And great masters probably used up several jars of Kuradashi Matcha each year. (Our Kuradashi Matcha Pinnacle and Super Premium are KOICHA grade.)

A special document of record known as OCHAIRE NIKKI was pasted on the back of the wooden storage box for the jar. This document shows detailed information about the green tea in the jar, such as the Grade of Tencha. The head of the tea ceremony recorded the date of harvest, the description and quantity of the green tea, and the date of packaging on the jar.

Until around mid 19th century Japan, the production of Matcha was monopolized by seven tea merchants in Uji, Kyoto. So the above process of storing tea in this special jar was allowed to only the seven tea merchants.
(Kuradashi Matcha Pinnacle, Super Premium, and Premium are now available.)

We are planning to sell three limited edition Kuradashi Gyokuro, one Kuradashi Sencha, and three Kuradashi Matcha only available mid-autumn. Please wait and see!