Tenku Farm — Single-Estate Natural-Farming Aracha

Tenku Farm mountain tea garden at Chibayama, Shimada, Shizuoka

LocationChibayama, Shimada · Shizuoka

Elevation496 metres

CultivationNo pesticides · no chemical fertiliser

Offered asAracha — unrefined crude tea

01 · The Garden & the Grower

High in the hills of Chibayama, Tenku Farm is the work of a single grower — Mr. Masuda, who tends, harvests and processes every batch himself.

Forest path leading to the Tenku Farm tea garden

Perched above 400 metres, the garden sits in isolation. With no neighbouring tea fields, there is no spray drift — the growing environment itself is clean, not only the practice.

Mr. Masuda once served as a master tea finisher at the Tsukimasa factory of Uogashi Meicha, a respected Tokyo tea house. Today he works with no staff and no shortcuts, processing each lot by hand.

The farm was once certified organic under Japan’s JAS system. Mr. Masuda chose to let the certification go — the farming never changed. No chemicals, no compromise, only a year-to-year devotion to the craft.

His tea has been recognised with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award. At Nagamine Seicha, we source his aracha for what it represents: independence, honesty, and tea in its simplest form.

496 m

A secluded mountain garden — cool nights, slow growth.

No Drift

No neighbouring fields — an uncontaminated growing space.

One Pair of Hands

Grown, harvested and finished by a single grower.

Aroma First

Cultivars chosen for fragrance, not for yield or umami.

02 · Five Cultivars

Tenku Farm grows five rare, aroma-driven cultivars — not a single bush of Yabukita among them. Each is offered as aracha, crude tea in its unrefined state. Notes below describe the general character of each cultivar; final expression reflects the garden, the elevation and Mr. Masuda’s hand.

Unfinished aracha (crude tea, before final firing) — Miyamakaori, Tenku Farm — Unfinished *aracha* — shown before final firing and refining

Cultivar I

Miyamakaori みやまかおり

Late-buddingAromatic

A very late-season cultivar bred for fragrance. Known for a sweet, roasted aroma often likened to steamed chestnut, with a clean, well-balanced cup.

Unfinished aracha (crude tea, before final firing) — Okuhikari, Tenku Farm — Unfinished *aracha* — shown before final firing and refining

Cultivar II

Okuhikari おくひかり

Late-buddingMountain-suited

A late cultivar prized in cool, high-elevation gardens. Deep green colour, a clear infusion and a soft, refreshing depth of flavour.

Unfinished aracha (crude tea, before final firing) — Harunonagori, Tenku Farm — Unfinished *aracha* — shown before final firing and refining

Cultivar III

Harunonagori はるのなごり

Very late-buddingRare

A late-season cultivar suited to sencha and to semi-fermented teas alike. Sound quality with a quietly elevated aroma — a cultivar still seldom planted.

Unfinished aracha (crude tea, before final firing) — Hokumei, Tenku Farm — Unfinished *aracha* — shown before final firing and refining

Cultivar IV

Hokumei ほくめい

Mid-late buddingHardy

A robust, cold-hardy cultivar with thick leaf. Its own distinctive aroma, with a flavour that leans slightly fuller than the common standard.

Unfinished aracha (crude tea, before final firing) — Okuharuka, Tenku Farm — Unfinished *aracha* — shown before final firing and refining

Cultivar V

Okuharuka おくはるか

Very late-buddingCherry-leaf aroma

An exceptionally late cultivar named for its cherry-leaf fragrance. A pale infusion carrying floral, faintly mentholated aromatic notes.

Offered as Aracha

These five cultivars are currently held as aracha — unrefined crude tea. Finishing, blending and lot configuration are decided together with the buyer, so the tea can be shaped to its market: as single-cultivar selections, or as a single-estate blend. Pricing, minimum order and certificate of analysis are arranged to suit each destination. We welcome enquiries.

Enquiries

Speak with us

For samples, finishing options and trade terms, please contact Nagamine Seicha directly. We are glad to discuss how Tenku Farm might suit your range.

Tenku Farm sits within our wider named-producer sencha selection.

Email Takayuki → Inquiry Form → Tasting Kits →