Hon Yama is the quintessential mountain tea region of Shizuoka, Japan. Okouchi is a small town within the Hon Yama tea-producing region and is historically significant as one of the premier cultivation villages for tribute tea destined for the Japanese emperor. Our partners preserve the rare traditions of hand-picking and light steaming with mountain spring water, honoring the heritage of this prestigious tea region.

The mountainous valleys along the Abe River in Shizuoka experience cool, foggy spring weather that gives rise to a special tea quality known as Yamano Kaori, or “mountain aroma.” During the peak spring harvest, mist blankets the tea gardens, enhancing the tea’s complex aromatics while encouraging slow growth that concentrates amino acids and softens tannins.

The resulting infusion is lustrous and vibrant, glowing with lemon-lime brightness. Its flavor and aroma are beautifully balanced, expressing the lively energy and freshness of springtime in the mountains.