While we love the rich taste and history of Uji, and the playful minerality of Yame terroir, there is one area of matcha production that quietly has been lauded for generations. Shizuoka is well-known as Japan's tea powerhouse, and a climb up into Shizuoka's 'Alps' you'll find legacy matcha from Hon Yama.
The Historic Roots of Japanese Ceremonial Matcha
High above Shizuoka Prefecture, the Honyama mountain range has been cultivating tea for more than 800 years, making it one of Japan’s earliest and most respected tea regions. Tea grown here was historically reserved for monks, nobles, and the shogunate, not only for its rarity, but for its exceptional clarity, aroma, and balance. These qualities remain central to what defines true Japanese matcha today: purity of leaf, careful cultivation, and deep connection to place.
Why Honyama Produces Exceptional Ceremonial Matcha
Honyama’s steep terrain and high elevation create ideal conditions for growing tencha used in Japanese ceremonial matcha. Slow-growing tea plants absorb nutrients from mineral-rich mountain soil while being cooled and shaded by fog drifting up from the Abe and Warashina rivers. The natural shading increases amino acids like L-theanine, resulting in matcha that is smooth, umami-forward, and naturally sweet without bitterness. These characteristics make Honyama matcha especially well suited for traditional whisked preparation (usucha or koicha). Honyama-cha is renowned for its transparent, elegant taste and a distinctive "mountain aroma" (yama no kaori) that results from the region's high elevation, mineral-rich soil, and natural fog.
Yama Matcha: A Classic Japanese Ceremonial Matcha
Yama Matcha – Japanese Ceremonial Matcha from Honyama is Mizuba’s most classic expression of mountain-grown tea. The flavor profile is balanced and refined, offering gentle umami, soft vegetal notes, and a clean, lingering finish. Designed for daily whisking, Yama froths smoothly and performs beautifully as usucha. This matcha reflects the enduring elegance of Honyama — grounded, composed, and deeply rooted in Japanese tea tradition.
Kumo Organic Matcha: Bright and Elevated Ceremonial Matcha
Kumo Organic Matcha – Japanese Ceremonial Matcha offers a lighter, more expressive interpretation of ceremonial matcha. Grown organically in the fog-covered slopes of Honyama, Kumo develops a vibrant umami with subtle natural sweetness and a lifted mouthfeel. Its name, meaning “cloud,” reflects both the misty growing conditions and the tea’s airy, energetic character. Kumo is ideal for those seeking a bright, modern ceremonial matcha that still honors traditional preparation.
Two Expressions of Japanese Ceremonial Matcha
Both Yama Matcha and Kumo Organic Matcha are authentic expressions of Japanese ceremonial matcha from the historic Honyama mountain range. Though they share the same origin, each tea highlights a different facet of the landscape — Yama offering depth and balance, Kumo offering lift and vitality. Together, they showcase why Honyama remains one of Japan’s most respected regions for matcha. At Mizuba Tea Co., we are proud to share these mountain-grown teas, connecting each bowl to centuries of Japanese craftsmanship.
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