---
title: "Nakamura Tokichi Honten: Uji Tea House Since 1854"
description: "Nakamura Tokichi Honten uses Kyoto-grown first-flush leaves for matcha with smooth umami, gentle sweetness, and minimal bitterness."
image: "https://best-matcha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/logo_256x256_7b12c87d-1f97-4709-84b3-43d46bef3b9d_x320.webp"
---
# Nakamura Tokichi Honten: Uji Tea House Since 1854

> Nakamura Tokichi Honten uses Kyoto-grown first-flush leaves for matcha with smooth umami, gentle sweetness, and minimal bitterness.

Source: https://best-matcha.com/shop/nakamura-tokichi-honten
Created: 2025-08-18T06:32:38+00:00
Modified: 2026-08-05T13:44:14+00:00
Author: Emilie Schol

**Nakamura Tokichi Honten** stands as a living testament to Japanese tea excellence, having served the finest Uji matcha since 1854. For over 170 years, seven generations of the Nakamura family have preserved traditional tea-making artistry while pioneering innovations that shaped the modern matcha industry.

### A Legacy Rooted in Innovation

The story of **Nakamura Tokichi Honten** begins in the heart of Uji, Kyoto—Japan’s most celebrated tea-producing region. What sets this historic tea merchant apart is its remarkable balance between honoring centuries-old traditions and embracing progress. In 1913, the company achieved a groundbreaking milestone by receiving **Patent No. 25028** for the electrification of the matcha grinding mill, revolutionizing how *tencha* leaves are transformed into fine matcha powder.

This pioneering spirit didn’t compromise quality. The company has served *imperial ceremonies* for generations, a distinction that speaks volumes about the exceptional caliber of their tea. Their main store building, preserved for over 100 years, is now designated as part of Uji’s Important Cultural Landscape.

### From Tea Leaves to Cultural Experience

Today, **Nakamura Tokichi Honten** offers more than premium **matcha** and green tea products. The main store in Uji features a cafe housed in a renovated tea factory, where visitors can experience authentic tea culture surrounded by history. The 250-year-old Horai Funamatsu pine tree—one of Uji’s 100 famous trees—graces the garden, creating an atmosphere where past and present converge.

Their signature offerings include:

- Premium matcha grades ranging from ceremonial koicha to everyday usucha

- Exclusive MIXCHA matcha latte blends

- Traditional sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha varieties

- Artisanal tea-infused sweets including their famous Tea Jelly served in bamboo cups

### The Nakamura Difference

What distinguishes **Nakamura Tokichi Honten** from other tea producers is their meticulous approach to cultivation and processing. They employ traditional shading techniques to block sunlight during *tencha* growth, enhancing the natural sweetness and reducing bitterness. Each tea grade reflects careful selection—higher grades offer deeper emerald green hues, complex umami profiles, and elegant aromas with minimal astringency.

The company operates six locations across Kyoto, with additional stores in Osaka and Tokyo, yet maintains the intimate character that defined their founding. Whether you’re discovering matcha for the first time or seeking the finest ceremonial grades, their knowledgeable staff guides you through selections that match your preferences and brewing style.

#### Preserving Tea Culture for Future Generations

Beyond selling tea, Nakamura Tokichi Honten educates visitors about proper brewing techniques, storage methods, and the philosophy behind Japanese tea culture. Their workshops offer hands-on experiences grinding *tencha* with traditional millstones and participating in tea ceremonies in historic tea rooms rarely open to the public. This commitment to education ensures that the art of Japanese tea continues to thrive in modern times.

---

## 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


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