Gui Tea Group

Gui Tea Group emerged as a transformative force in the global matcha industry when it was established in Guizhou Province in April 2010 with a registered capital of RMB 190 million (approximately USD 27.5 million). The company rapidly evolved from a regional tea producer into a multifaceted modern tea enterprise that would challenge the traditional dominance of Japanese matcha producers.

The company’s infrastructure expansion has been remarkable, developing five state-of-the-art facilities spanning over 300,000 square meters, including four primary facilities and one refining facility. Gui Tea Group maintains control over 140,000 Chinese mu (9,333 hectares) of meticulously managed tea gardens, with 10,000 mu (666 hectares) proudly holding USDA and EC organic certifications.

The company’s commitment to quality is demonstrated through its comprehensive certification portfolio, including Halal, Kosher, AIB, FSSC 22000, HACCP, and Rainforest Alliance certifications. Their production process integrates traditional Japanese techniques like chagama (traditional iron kettle) style steaming with advanced Western technology, including ceramic ball mills that achieve a target particle size of 5-10 micrometers for optimal matcha texture.

Gui Tea Group’s Tongren factory represents a milestone in matcha production as the world’s largest single-site matcha factory, capable of producing 10 tonnes of matcha daily with an annual production capacity exceeding 4,000 tonnes. The facility operates under strict quality control standards, including a 100,000-level aseptic workshop environment and testing for 480 pesticide residues using advanced analytical techniques.

The company’s production methodology encompasses over 20 meticulous steps, from the initial 3-4 week shading process that reduces sunlight exposure by approximately 90% to enhance chlorophyll and L-theanine levels, through to the final packaging with nitrogen flushing to preserve quality. This comprehensive approach ensures their matcha achieves a colorimeter score of >800 and maintains a theanine content of ≥1.2%.