Kuma Tea Garden

Introduction

Kuma Tea Garden started cultivating tea over hundred years ago in the mountains of Fukuoka, in the famous Yame region. The soil in the area is rich in minerals and is famed for producing particularly sweet and fragrant teas. The Kuma family pays particular attention to the soil. Based on the tea they are growing they determine the best cultivation methods and soil types most suited for the particular tea. They prioritise thoughtful cultivation, precise picking, and careful processing to produce the most flavourful teas possible,

Kuma Tea Garden has won numerous awards, including in very prestigious competitions such as the National Tea Competition and National Hand-Rolled Tea Competition.

The Family

Japanese tea instructor Kazumi Nakatani manages Kuma Tea Gardens as a brand representing her tea farmer uncles and cousins. She uses her expert palette to design exquisite sencha and gyokuro teas from the leaves farmed by her extended family.

Cousin Masahiro Kuma is quickly becoming a legend in Japan, having won the top prize (Minister's Award) for  gyokuro tea category at the 2017 National Tea Competition.

Masahiro Kuma (with his wife and newborn baby) receives the Minister's Award from Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa

Awards

Listed below are the awards won at national level competitions. (Local / regional awards not listed to save space.)

• 4th National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
• 4th National Tea Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
• 21st National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Gold Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
• 33rd National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Gold Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
• 43rd National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Bronze Medal, Kuma
• 67th National Tea Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Kuma
• 9th National Gyokuro Steeping Competition, Winner, Kazumi Nakatani
• 69th National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Silver Medal, Shota Kuma
• 100th Anniversary of the Export of Japanese Tea, Commemorative Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma