Honzu Cultivation in Uji

From our journal · 17 April 2024

Uji-Gokasho, Kyoto
MTCH™ Field Trip 2024

Before synthetic shade cloth was developed, traditional tea cultivation used bamboo roof frames covered with rice straw. This is known as honzu cultivation.

At first, covering tea plants was intended to protect them from spring frost. The benefits of shading became understood later, and the practice developed into a way of creating the depth of flavour we know today.

Building the bamboo frames and laying the rice straw is heavy work. It takes a great deal of labour and time. Most tea gardens now use synthetic shade cloth instead.

A small number of producers still choose honzu cultivation. It creates several important conditions for high-quality leaves, with distinctive layers of aroma and flavour. These teas are rare, and their prices reflect that.

For customers interested in tea made this way, our original post suggested Honzu Asahi, Asahikari and Narino, served as an Usucha Set at MTCH™. This menu reference is from April 2024.

All photos by MTCH™. All rights reserved. Copying or redistribution is not permitted.
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1. A tea plot under 98% shade before harvest, photographed in May 2023.
1. A tea plot under 98% shade before harvest, photographed in May 2023.
2. The same plot, with its bamboo frame prepared for shading, photographed in April 2024.
2. The same plot, with its bamboo frame prepared for shading, photographed in April 2024.
3. Bamboo used to build the frame.
3. Bamboo used to build the frame.
4. Rice straw used to shade the tea.
4. Rice straw used to shade the tea.

Original story on Instagram