Sakura
We source our sakura leaves from a family-run farm in Ehime. The cultivar "Youkou" (陽光) used for the tea was specially bred by our farmer's father and has a heartwarming story that has even been adapted into a film in Japan. The former middle school teacher was deeply affected by the impact of the Second World War on his students; although he had promised that they would be reunited under a cherry blossom tree (sakura), he was never to see many of them return from war. With unwavering determination and countless setbacks, he dedicated the next two decades to a very special project: growing a sakura that could grow and thrive in both hot and cold climates. This cultivar was developed not only to fulfil the promise to his students, but also to serve as a symbol of peace and commemoration of fallen soldiers around the world. For more than 40 years, the Foundation has planted more than 20,000 of these cherry blossom trees all over the world - from the Vatican to Madagascar, Mexico to Azerbaijan, the deep pink flowering Youkou Sakura can be found as a symbol of peace and tolerance among nations.
Chiran Yabukita Sencha
The renowned tea-growing region of Chiran lies in Kagoshima, in the far south of Japan. Here, the tea grows on flat terrain near the sea, benefiting from exceptionally high levels of sunshine and highly fertile volcanic soils enriched by ash from the active Mount Sakurajima.
To protect the leaves from the intense sunlight, the tea plants are shaded for around seven days before harvest. After picking, the leaves are washed with water to remove any volcanic ash. The farmer produces his own natural fertiliser from a rich blend of natural materials, including bamboo powder and mineral-rich rock, which is matured and fermented for three years. He also takes particular pride in his traditional rolling and drying machinery, which features bamboo components instead of plastic.
