The tea plantations that are chosen by SAKURAJIMA are the ones that produce high-quality products which gain acceptance at the national level. These products receive the ISO9001, ISO22000 and HACCP. We also select chemical-free products that comply with the Organic Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS).
“Biroen”
“Biroen” （美老園） is a large tea manufacturer which purchases tea from minor farmers. It has been operating for over 130 years. This factory produces high-quality tea and has its own big store in the center of Kagoshima more than 10 branches which sell Kagoshima Cha in Japan’s leading department stores. Biroen has received the food safety standard FSSC22000.
Chirancha “Oritaen Tea Plantation”
“Oritaen tea plantation”（おりた園） has been producing tea for more than 40 years using manure and dung. The tea from Oritaen tea plantation received the excellent product award from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for three consecutive years from 1996 to 1999. The tea is also certified as chemical-free according to the Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS). This plantation takes up the space of 125 rai. It gains acceptance both from domestic buyers and international tea importers from the US, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France and Singapore. Besides, the company provides consultancy on instant tea production for large manufacturers of instant tea in Japan.
Kirishimacha “Henta Tea Plantation”
The owner of “Henta tea plantation” （ヘンタ製茶） has been producing tea since 1982 after his father. The plantation which covers the area of 112.5 rai produces quality tea using organic compost. Most of the plantation area is on the hills. The tea from this plantation is very popular since tea which is planted on hills will have strong taste, nice aroma and beautiful green color. Henta tea plantation received the excellent agricultural executive award in 2012 and also the excellent new product award for two consecutive years from 2011 to 2012.
Satsuma-cho cha “Kumadaseicha Tea Plantation”
The owner of “Kumada tea plantation” （熊田製茶） has been producing tea for more than 50 years after his father. It is a small plantation. At first, the owner planted tea using chemicals. After he got married, his wife was allergic to the chemicals used in the tea plantation. So, he started producing chemical-free tea or organic tea in 1985. Nowadays, this plantation only produces chemical-free tea on the land of 37.5 rai which will be increased to 45 rai in the future. The tea from Kumada tea plantation is certified as organic tea according to the Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS).
∴ Japanese Organic Tea (Organic JAS)
Green tea which is certified as organic tea according to the Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS) by Japan’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will have the “JAS” logo on the package. Certified organic tea must pass the examination according to the following key requirements or guidelines:
◯ The tea plantation must be free of chemicals such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals for at least 3 years.
◯ During the tea production, packaging, transportation or selling, organic tea must go through these processes separately, not to be handled together with other types of tea which are not organic.
◯ Organic tea must be produced in the area which is far away from other tea plantations that apply chemicals according to the distance or the regulation which has been set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
