---
title: "Horii Shichimeien: Uji Grower of Oku no Yama Garden"
description: "Horii Shichimeien protects Uji's historic Oku no Yama garden and stone-grinds first-harvest matcha with rich umami and minimal astringency."
image: "https://best-matcha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/logo2022.webp"
---
# Horii Shichimeien: Uji Grower of Oku no Yama Garden

> Horii Shichimeien protects Uji's historic Oku no Yama garden and stone-grinds first-harvest matcha with rich umami and minimal astringency.

Source: https://best-matcha.com/shop/horii-shichimeien
Created: 2025-09-19T01:49:17+00:00
Modified: 2026-08-05T13:42:43+00:00
Author: Emilie Schol

**Horii Shichimeien** stands as the guardian of Uji’s most precious tea heritage, protecting *Oku no Yama*, the sole surviving garden from the seven legendary Uji tea plantations designated by the Ashikaga shogunate during the Muromachi period. Since 1879, this family-run estate has cultivated matcha in soil that has nurtured tea plants for over 600 years, bridging centuries of tradition with modern mastery.

### A Living Connection to Tea History

Few tea producers can claim such an unbroken lineage. The Oku no Yama garden represents not just historical significance but a living laboratory where **Horii Shichimeien** continues methods refined across six centuries. This isn’t preservation for its own sake—the terroir of this ancient site produces *ceremonial-grade matcha* with a complexity that younger gardens simply cannot replicate.

The company handles every stage from cultivation to final processing, maintaining complete quality control. As growers, artisans, and connoisseurs, they understand how Uji’s unique climate and terrain shape each harvest.

### Innovation Rooted in Tradition

In 1924, **Horii Shichimeien** revolutionized matcha production by inventing the Horii-style tencha dryer, mechanizing what had been an entirely manual process. This innovation became the foundation for every tencha dryer used in Japan today, proving that respecting tradition doesn’t mean rejecting progress.

Their approach balances ancestral wisdom with technical precision. Each tea reflects the *authentic Uji flavor profile*: a clear, pale yellow brew with rich umami and refreshing astringency that distinguishes genuine Uji matcha from generic alternatives.

### Beyond a Single Garden

While Oku no Yama forms their foundation, **Horii Shichimeien** also selects and processes teas from trusted local farmers, applying their expertise to a broader range of Uji specialties. Their collection spans the full spectrum of Japanese green tea:

- Premium ceremonial matcha from their historic garden

- Sencha, gyokuro, and karigane showcasing Uji’s versatility

- Hojicha and genmaicha for everyday enjoyment

- Seasonal specialty teas reflecting harvest variations

For matcha enthusiasts seeking authenticity, **Horii Shichimeien** offers direct access to a producer whose name is inseparable from Uji tea history itself. This is matcha with provenance that matters.

---

## Site identity

- Organization: Best Matcha (Emilie Schol)
- Description: Best Matcha is a specialized marketplace and educational platform for comparing Japanese matcha brands, products, grades, prices, and preparation guidance. It connects tea enthusiasts with producers and provides source-conscious guides for making informed choices.
- Website: https://best-matcha.com


```json
[{"@type":"WebPage","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com#website"},"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2025-09-19T01:49:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-05T13:42:43+00:00","primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo2022.webp","width":183,"height":193,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Horii Shichimeien"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#brand"},"hasPart":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What makes Horii Shichimeien's Narino matcha different from their other varieties?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Narino contains nearly twice the theanine (umami component) of conventional matcha varieties at approximately 40mg\/g, compared to standard levels around 20mg\/g. This high theanine content creates Narino's distinctive rich, creamy, full-bodied flavor with negligible bitterness or astringency.Grown exclusively in Horii Shichimeien's historic Oku no Yama Tea Garden, Narino often undergoes Shigoki picking - a highly selective hand-picking method that chooses only the youngest, most tender leaves. This labor-intensive approach maximizes the concentrated umami flavor that sets Narino apart from their other offerings like Shichimei no Mukashi or Uji Mukashi."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is Horii Shichimeien's Oku no Yama Tea Garden historically significant?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Oku no Yama Tea Garden is the only surviving garden from the original seven tea gardens recognized as Uji Shichimeien by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Radiocarbon dating reveals tea cultivation here extends back centuries, with soil enriched by rice straw since the 1400s.Located near the Uji Byodoin Temple, this garden represents the sole remaining connection to the Shogun's original endorsement of Uji's highest quality tea. All other six original gardens have been lost to time, making Horii Shichimeien the exclusive guardian of this 600-year tea heritage."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How did the Horii-style Tencha Dryer revolutionize matcha production?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In 1924, third-generation owner Chojiro Horii invented the Horii-style Tencha Dryer, transforming tencha production from a weather-dependent, labor-intensive manual process to an automated, standardized system. Before this innovation, tencha quality varied significantly due to inconsistent drying conditions.Standardized quality: Eliminated weather dependency for consistent resultsIndustry impact: All tencha processing machines in Japan today are improved versions of Horii's original designGenerous sharing: Chojiro shared the technology with other tea producers, influencing the entire industryThis machine laid the groundwork for modern tencha production and established the quality standards still used today."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Horii Shichimeien matcha should I choose for daily drinking versus ceremonial use?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"For daily drinking, choose Uji Mukashi - it's light-bodied with subtle umami, perfect for everyday enjoyment without overwhelming intensity.For ceremonial use, select Okunoyama with its deep umami, refined sweetness, and smooth finish, or Narino for its exceptional 40mg\/g theanine content and full-bodied flavor. Both Shichimei no Mukashi and Homare no Mukashi work well for both usucha (thin tea) and koicha (thick tea) preparations, offering balanced profiles suitable for traditional tea ceremony."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Horii Shichimeien currently experiencing supply shortages?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, Horii Shichimeien is currently completely sold out of many varieties due to skyrocketing global matcha demand. The shortage affects even renowned varieties like Todou Mukashi, which has become particularly difficult to find.This shortage stems from two main factors: the limited production capacity of traditional stone mills and increased demand for hand-picked tencha. The global matcha market is expected to surge from $2.8 billion in 2023 to about $5 billion by 2028, creating unprecedented pressure on premium producers like Horii Shichimeien who maintain traditional quality standards."}}],"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#webpage"},{"@type":"Brand","name":"Horii Shichimeien","slogan":"Guardian of Uji's Last Original Matcha Garden","description":"Horii Shichimeien protects Uji's historic Oku no Yama garden and stone-grinds first-harvest matcha with rich umami and minimal astringency.","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo2022.webp","width":183,"height":193,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Horii Shichimeien"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/logo2022.webp","width":183,"height":193,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Horii Shichimeien"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/horiishichimeien.com\/en\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/horiishichimeien\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100041476644914","https:\/\/horiishichimeien.myshopify.com","https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps?cid=17561464431865990856"],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#webpage"},"subjectOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#products"},"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/horii-shichimeien#brand"}]
```