Over 15 years ago, our president and founder, Akihiro “Akky” Kita, visited Wazuka, Kyoto. The tea produced in this rural district is known as Ujicha, one of the highest quality, premium teas in Japan. Akky was a college student in search of his life’s calling. Inspired by a single cup of Ujicha drunk at its source, Akihiro’s passion for green tea was born. After fifteen years of learning to master the art of growing premium tea leaves from master tea farmers in Wazuka, Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations was born. The name Obubu itself comes from the slang of Kyoto and means tea.
Obubu President Akihiro “Akky” Kita
Obubu Vice President, Yasuharu “Matsu” Matsumoto
We hope to extend the Obubu family beyond Japan’s shores as we seek to educate the world about quality Japanese green tea, to promote both the traditional and contemporary culture of drinking green tea, and to aid other tea farmers as they seek to establish tea plantations in their respective countries and regions.
Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations, is a Japanese tea brand owned and operated by tea farmers in the town of Wazuka, Kyoto. Started by Akihiro Kita and Yasuharu Matsumoto in 2004, the company began as an agricultural social venture. Akky and Matsu’s aim was and still is, to teach tea lovers both in Japan and overseas about the value of tea farming, and to contribute to society through tea.
To make farming fun by creating connections between consumers and producers To contribute to the spread of tea culture by introducing Japanese tea and providing advice to other farmers around the worldKyoto Obubu Tea Plantations, is a Japanese tea brand owned and operated by tea farmers in the town of Wazuka, Kyoto. Started by Akihiro Kita and Yasuharu Matsumoto in 2004, the company began as an agricultural social venture. Akky and Matsu’s aim was and still is, to teach tea lovers both in Japan and overseas about the value of tea farming, and to contribute to society through tea.
Over 15 years ago, our president and founder, Akihiro ‚”Akky‚” Kita, visited Wazuka, Kyoto. The tea produced in this rural district is known as Ujicha, one of the highest quality, premium teas in Japan. Akky was a college student in search of his life’s calling. Inspired by a single cup of Ujicha drunk at its source, Akihiro’s passion for green tea was born. After fifteen years of learning to master the art of growing premium tea leaves from master tea farmers in Wazuka, Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations was born. The name Obubu itself comes from the Kyoto slang for tea. We hope to extend this family beyond Japan’s shores as we seek to educate the world about quality Japanese green tea, to promote both the traditional and contemporary culture of drinking green tea, and to aid other tea farmers as they seek to establish tea plantations in their respective countries and regions.
Based upon techniques used to grow and process tea in Kyoto, Japan, our plantations produce more than sixteen different types of premium Ujicha green tea including Kabuse Sencha, Kaze no Sencha, Houjicha, Genmaicha and other varieties. Kabuse Sencha and Kaze no Sencha, in particular, are extraordinary green teas with unique flavors and leaves that can be eaten with a dash of soy sauce after brewing. Our teas are aracha, or what we like to call “single malt” — whole leaves from a single field and harvest before they are sorted and blended.
