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KIMIKURA Tea: Kakegawa Tea Merchant Since 1933

KIMIKURA Tea draws on a Kakegawa tea business founded in 1933, offering matcha from Kyoto and Kagoshima alongside deep-steamed Shizuoka tea.
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Who is KIMIKURA Tea?

KIMIKURA Tea is a Japanese matcha brand rooted in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, with tea-business heritage dating to 1933. It sources matcha from Kyoto and Kagoshima, alongside deep-steamed Shizuoka tea, with ceremonial and culinary grades.

Its Tea Masters vet each tea and refine Aracha through controlled roasting and blending. They oversee steaming and drying fresh leaves, adjusting time and temperature for weather and each field’s characteristics.

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KIMIKURA Tea in details

KIMIKURA Tea brings nine decades of Japanese tea expertise from Kakegawa, Shizuoka—the birthplace of fukamushicha (deep-steamed tea). Founded in 1933 as Maruyama Tea Products Co., this family-owned operation has spent over 90 years perfecting the art of tea cultivation and refinement in one of Japan’s most celebrated tea regions.

Rooted in Kakegawa’s Tea Heritage

The story begins with founder Tsujimatsu Maruyama, who established the company during Japan’s tea export boom. Today, KIMIKURA Tea operates from the same location where their founder’s house once stood, maintaining deep connections with local farmers across Kakegawa’s 2,300 hectares of tea plantations. This region accounts for 10% of all Shizuoka tea production and has won the National Tea Competition’s Area Award an unprecedented 23 times for fukamushicha excellence.

The Chashi Difference: Masters Behind Every Batch

What sets KIMIKURA apart is their team of certified chashi (tea masters) who use all five senses to craft exceptional matcha and green tea. Their master blenders have earned gold prizes in Shizuoka’s prestigious Tea Refining Competitions, bringing decades of specialized knowledge to every product. Each tea undergoes meticulous selection, roasting, and blending to highlight the unique characteristics of different harvests and regions.

The brand name itself—meaning “a storehouse where precious, beautiful things gather”—reflects their philosophy of combining nature’s gifts with inherited artisan skills.

From Ceremonial Matcha to Signature Fukamushicha

KIMIKURA’s product range spans premium ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from renowned regions like Uji, Nishio, and Kagoshima, alongside their specialty deep-steamed sencha from Kakegawa. Their organic offerings meet strict JAS certification standards, while their signature IORI blend showcases the rich, sweet flavor profile that made Kakegawa famous.

Sustainable Excellence

The company practices the traditional Chagusa-nouhou tea-grass integration system, recognized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. This method naturally enriches soil while protecting local ecosystems—proof that KIMIKURA honors both tradition and environmental stewardship.

With multiple tea houses and cafés across Shizuoka, factory-direct pricing, and worldwide shipping, KIMIKURA Tea makes authentic Japanese tea mastery accessible to matcha enthusiasts everywhere.

About the KIMIKURA Tea Matcha

KIMIKURA Tea offers matcha across multiple grades, from ceremonial grade for traditional tea ceremony to culinary grade for cooking and beverages. The powder is sourced from renowned regions including Kagoshima and Kyoto, each lending distinctive character to the line.

Flagship matcha

The flagship Matcha Kyoto stands out for its exceptional umami, rich sweetness and a memorable lingering aftertaste that defines high-quality Japanese matcha. Its depth and diversity showcase the breadth of KIMIKURA's tea craftsmanship.

Quality control

Every tea is vetted by KIMIKURA's award-winning Tea Masters, who serve as guardians of the house standard. Only matcha that meets their approval is deemed suitable for the range, keeping quality consistent across every grade offered.

Harvest location

KIMIKURA Tea is rooted in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, a region synonymous with exceptional tea cultivation and central to the brand's sourcing.

Processing methods

Production centers on refining Aracha (crude tea) through controlled roasting and blending. Tea Masters oversee steaming and drying leaves while still fresh to preserve the vibrant green color, with time and temperature adjusted to weather conditions and the characteristics of each cultivated field, ensuring optimal processing for each harvest batch.

Multi-regional sourcing

While based in Shizuoka, KIMIKURA also sources matcha from Kagoshima and Kyoto, drawing diverse flavor profiles from the terroir each growing area contributes.

KIMIKURA Tea History

KIMIKURA Tea is rooted in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Its heritage connects to an agricultural cooperative established in 1891, and the business was formally founded by Tsujimatsu Maruyama as Maruyama Tea Products Co. in 1933.

Modern milestones

  • 2009: opened a traditional tearoom with a Japanese garden view.
  • 2023: launched matchaKIMIKURA as a dedicated matcha brand.
  • 2024: opened the matchaKIMIKURA flagship store at Kakegawa Station.
January 1, 1891

The original agricultural cooperative that would later influence KIMIKURA's establishment was founded in Kakegawa, creating the foundation for the region's tea cultivation expertise and community-based approach to tea production.

January 1, 1933

Tsujimatsu Maruyama formally established Maruyama Tea Products Co., marking the official beginning of KIMIKURA's operations as a dedicated tea manufacturing company with a commitment to quality and traditional Japanese tea culture.

January 1, 2009

KIMIKURA opened a traditional tearoom featuring a beautiful Japanese garden view, allowing customers to experience the complete atmosphere of Japanese tea culture beyond just taste, enhancing the brand's cultural authenticity and customer engagement.

January 1, 2023

The company launched matchaKIMIKURA as a dedicated matcha-focused brand under the KIMIKURA umbrella, specifically designed to promote matcha as a fresh representation of Kakegawa tea culture to the growing global matcha market.

March 15, 2024

The matchaKIMIKURA Kakegawa Station Flagship Store opened with a charming two-story design featuring a retro cedar plank exterior, strategically located next to the wooden station building at Kakegawa Station's north exit to serve both locals and travelers.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Where does KIMIKURA Tea source its matcha?

KIMIKURA Tea sources matcha from Kyoto and Kagoshima while remaining rooted in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. This multi-regional approach brings different growing-area characteristics into its matcha range. The company also specializes in deep-steamed Shizuoka tea, connecting its broader selection to the tea cultivation and processing heritage of Kakegawa.

What matcha grades does KIMIKURA Tea offer?

KIMIKURA Tea offers multiple matcha grades, including ceremonial matcha for traditional tea preparation and culinary matcha for cooking and beverages. The range draws powder from Kyoto and Kagoshima. Its flagship Matcha Kyoto is described as having pronounced umami, rich sweetness, and a lingering aftertaste, reflecting the company’s multi-regional approach to Japanese matcha.

How do KIMIKURA Tea Masters control quality?

KIMIKURA’s award-winning Tea Masters vet every tea and act as guardians of the company’s quality standard. They approve only matcha considered suitable for the range. Their work also includes refining Aracha through controlled roasting and blending, as well as overseeing steaming and drying adjustments based on weather and individual field characteristics.

When did the tea business behind KIMIKURA begin?

KIMIKURA’s tea-business heritage formally began in 1933, when Tsujimatsu Maruyama established Maruyama Tea Products Co. in Kakegawa. The company’s historical roots also connect to an agricultural cooperative established in 1891. Later developments included a traditional tearoom, a dedicated matchaKIMIKURA brand, and a flagship store at Kakegawa Station.

What is KIMIKURA Tea’s connection to Kakegawa and Shizuoka tea?

KIMIKURA Tea is based in Kakegawa, Shizuoka, a region closely associated with tea cultivation and deep-steamed tea. The company draws on a local tea-business heritage dating to 1933 and works with Shizuoka tea alongside matcha from other regions. Its Tea Masters oversee processing methods such as steaming, drying, roasting, and blending.