Mie Prefecture, where the Ise-Shima
Summit was held in 2016, has been called as Ise
from old times.
It is assumed that tea
cultivation in the Ise district began in the
Heian Period (794 to 1185) where the high
priests planted and grew tea leaves, passing
down the processing method directly to their
apprentices.
Ise cha was often given as a
tribute to the Imperial Court Emperor from a
temple of Ise during the Muromachi era of 1336
to 1573 and quickly flourished to become a
special privilege among the monks of shrines and
temples, and the people of noble society.
The Shinto priests of Ise Jingu, or Ise
Grand Shrine, offered Ise cha, an obi, or a
sword knot to people who sought oblation
following each of the ceremony fees.
The
success of Matsusaka merchants helped spread out
products such as Ise cha and Ise cotton
throughout the Edo era from 1603 to 1868.
From the end of the Edo period and to the
Meiji era, 1868, foreign export was growing, and
so were the tea plantation areas.
The tea
manufacturing method of the Ise cha was devised
earlier on and became the exemplar for other tea
cultivation, acquiring mentorship nationwide.
MARUEI is located in a most suitable
environment for tea plantation, in the
highlands, approximately 1,800 feet above sea
level overlooking the Ise Bay.
In the spring,
it produces cherry blossom fragrances and is
coated in a blanket of snow in the winter.
A tea plantation of approximately 9,884
acres spreads out around Maruei Co., Ltd.
MARUEI constantly challenge to provide high
quality green tea with higher precision based on
the concept that "safety and trust are our
products."
Our company is certified
ISO22000, FSSC, and organic certification. With
this, we have found a new factory in compliance
with Codex for better security of our products.
The production line of processed tea can
process 13,227 pounds per day and also has a
crushing system to produce sterilized and
sanitized powdered green tea without
medicationusing any chemicals.
Ise cha
has 800 years of history and is in third place
nationwide for the amount of tea production.
Above all, it boasts first place nationwide
of other teas of 614 short ton and 50% of the
whole country of Gyokuro and Kabuse cha, which
is in first place of 1,251 short ton.
Raw
materials of the powdered green tea are produced
in many places for industrial use and are also
widely used for confectioneries and other drinks
for a food industrial use.
The
cultivation method of covering with a shading
net is what defines ”Kabuse cha, Gyokuro”.
Amino acids and theanine, which are
nutrients and taste components, are accumulated
in the leaf so that it does not get affected by
photosynthesis.
Also, by covering the
leaves, it can boost up the photosynthesis
process even in the shade and increase the
chlorophyll, making bright green leaves.
The surface is thin, and the tea leaf becomes
soft by growing in the shade, which is what
produces the sweetness of a “mild taste” and the
“bright greenness”, differentiating itself from
other teas.
Researchers around the world
are paying attention to the health benefits of
Green tea and Green tea extracts.
According to an experimental case at the
Switzerland Basel University, the cooperation of
the brain connected to the working memory had
improved.
Green tea also includes
catechin and amino acid, flavonoid, and a
variety of vitamins, which are all beneficial to
the human body.
It is also said that
Green tea can improve cancer and colds, cavity
prevention, fair skin, the controlling of blood
sugar level, and resting energy expenditure.
In Japan, tea has been a lifestyle since
more than 1,200 years before the establishment
of tea ceremony known as Sadou.
Our raw
materials are widely used in bottled drinks, ice
cream, matcha lattes, chocolates and even cakes.
We hope you enjoy and appreciate Japanese
tea culture and Green tea. |
