Sayama Tea SAYAMA-CHA "Kasumigawa"

The roots of Sayama tea lie in the Sayama hills straddling Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo. In these hills — which seem to float like a dot within the Musashino Plateau — steamed sencha making began early in the late Edo period, and tea made here came to be called "Sayama tea." Later, in the Meiji period, the tea export company "Sayama Company" was established in Kurosu Village (now Iruma City), and "Sayama tea" became established as a collective name for tea produced in the surrounding area.

Shutoken Agrifarm Co., Ltd. was established in 2015, aiming to connect this historic Sayama tea brand to the next generation. By managing vast tea fields in Kaneko area of Iruma City — one of the main Sayama tea production areas — and handling everything from tea tree cultivation to tea processing, roasting, blending, packaging, and sales under one integrated system, the company has built a structure that can stably supply "authentic Sayama tea."

The Sayama tea handled by the company is characterized by maximally drawing out the potential of thick tea leaves grown in cool climates through deep-steaming methods and the traditional "Sayama hi-ire." In particular, the brand-symbolizing special sencha "Kasumigawa" uses further-selected tea leaves from the first picking — finished as a gem with heavy, deep flavor and refined fire aroma.

The packaging also reflects Japanese aesthetics — paulownia box gifts, chiyogami tin-can tea bags, drawstring-bag premium hojicha. Receiving evaluations at overseas contests such as silver at the Japanese tea contest "C'est bon le Japon" in Paris, France, and bronze at "Japanese TEA selection PARIS" — the brand is enjoyed by fans worldwide as a rare Japanese tea.

An official brand of "Sayama tea" — one of Japan's three great teas, alongside Shizuoka and Uji

Sayama tea is one of Japan's three great teas, alongside Shizuoka tea and Uji tea. A rare tea cultivated and produced mainly in western Saitama Prefecture and the western Tama region of Tokyo, characterized by the heavy aroma and richness born from thick leaves. The SAYAMA-CHA brand was born as an official brand to communicate the appeal of that Sayama tea to the world.

The traditional "Sayama hi-ire" firing draws out rich sweetness and toasty fire aroma

After steaming picked tea leaves with high-temperature steam, repeatedly rolling, twisting, and drying them, the unique roasting "Sayama hi-ire" — finishing at temperatures as high as 120°C — is performed. By carefully firing in the finishing stage, the storage quality is enhanced, and "Sayama tea flavor" — where sweet, toasty fire aroma and deep umami stand out — is born.

Managing about 79 hectares in Kaneko, Iruma City — a large-scale tea garden with international certification

Shutoken Agrifarm manages about 79 hectares of farmland — the largest scale among Sayama tea producers — in Kaneko area of Iruma City, one of the main Sayama tea production areas. Committed to a "self-garden, self-manufacture, self-sale" style that handles everything from tea garden cultivation to manufacturing and sales, the company has obtained ASIAGAP and FDA certifications — delivering safe and reliable Sayama tea to Japan and abroad.