about NATURAL FARMING
It may come as a surprise, but ~90% of all tea grown in Japan isn't exported for a multitude of reasons. Of the remaining 10%, less than 1% is certified organic and natural farming is a cultivation method with even stricter standards than organic farming. The production volume is estimated to be ~0.01% of total Japanese tea production.
We feel lucky to have friends who devote themselves to this agricultural practice, and to have the opportunity to spread their labor of love beyond Japan. We believe that naturally farmed tea is of the purest/ highest quality and therefore friendly to the earth and to our bodies.
What is natural farming?
Natural farming (shizen nōhō [自然農法]) is an agricultural philosophy which heavily focuses on working with the natural biodiversity of an area in order to allow nature to sustain itself. It emphasizes learning from how our ancestors used to grow food, and the result is:
・higher nutritional quality of produce
・reduced environmental impact
・a more diverse ecosystem
・deeper root penetration
・a longer shelf-life
・enhanced soil fertility/ structure
・improved water retention in the soil
・lower labor inputs
・lower costs for farmers
Our farmers abide by the following principles in growing their naturally-farmed tea:
1. No tillage: avoiding plowing or disturbing the soil to maintain soil health and structure
2. No chemical inputs: relying only on natural processes and organic matter to nourish plants and control pests
3. Diversity: planting a variety of crops together enhances ecosystem stability and resilience
4. Minimal intervention: fostering a self-sustaining agricultural system by minimizing human interference
We hope you can taste the difference of naturally-farmed tea and that it brings you as much joy as it does to us.