Marukyu Koyamaen is a highly distinguished Japanese tea company with a history of over 300 years in Uji, Kyoto. The brand is celebrated for its "quality-first" philosophy and is a purveyor to the grand masters of several top-tier tea ceremony schools in Japan, including the Urasenke and Omotesenke schools.
Brand History & Philosophy
- Founded: Genroku era (1688-1704) by Koyama Kyujiro.
- Location: Ogura, Uji, Kyoto, Japan.
The company began with tea cultivation in the Uji region and has been refining its craft for generations. The "quality-first" approach is central to their identity, with the company overseeing every step of the process, from cultivation and harvesting to final production. This commitment has earned them numerous awards, including the top prize at the All-Japan Tea Competition multiple times.
Marukyu Koyamaen is a vertically integrated producer, meaning they cultivate their own tea on their estates in Uji, giving them complete control over the final product's quality.
Company Details
- Official Name: Marukyu Koyamaen Co., Ltd. (株式会社丸久小山園)
- Established: Genroku era (c. 1704)
- Location: Uji, Kyoto, Japan
- Core Business: Cultivation, production, and sale of high-grade Uji tea, particularly matcha.
Key Matcha Products
Marukyu Koyamaen offers an extensive range of matcha, clearly graded for different uses, from culinary applications to the highest levels of the tea ceremony.
Competition Grade
This is the highest quality matcha, often winning national awards.
- Tenju (天授): The absolute highest grade, with a name meaning "gift from heaven."
Ceremonial Grades (For Koicha & Usucha)
Rich, complex, and suitable for thick (koicha) or thin (usucha) tea.
- Choan (長安)
- Eiju (永寿)
- Unkaku (雲鶴)
Ceremonial Grades (For Usucha)
Excellent for daily thin tea practice.
- Kinpai (金牌)
- Ginrin (銀印)
- Aoarashi (青嵐): A versatile and popular entry-level ceremonial grade, suitable for both usucha and high-end lattes.
- Isuzu (五十鈴): Another accessible ceremonial grade, perfect for beginners.
Culinary & Latte Grades
- Wakatake (若竹): A high-quality culinary grade, excellent for lattes and baking.
- Sui (翠)
Quality and Sourcing
- Origin: All tea is sourced from the company's own estates in the Uji, Kyoto region, ensuring traceability and quality control.
- Cultivation: They combine traditional, labor-intensive methods (like hand-picking and using natural fertilizers) with modern agricultural science to produce the best possible tea leaves.
- Processing: The leaves are processed with meticulous care, and the matcha is stone-ground to create an exceptionally fine powder.
Market Position
Marukyu Koyamaen is a top-tier, globally recognized brand for high-quality Uji matcha.
- Target Audience: Tea ceremony practitioners, high-end cafes and confectioners, and serious matcha connoisseurs.
- Competitors: Competes with other elite Kyoto-based producers like Ippodo.
- Brand Identity: Known for its award-winning quality, deep historical roots, and its role as an official purveyor to tea ceremony schools.
Where to Buy
Marukyu Koyamaen's products are available through their own stores and a network of international distributors.
- Official Stores: They have several stores in Japan.
- Online: Available through their official Japanese website and various international online retailers that specialize in high-quality tea.
- Specialty Retailers: Found in specialty tea shops and high-end food stores in major cities around the world.