They offer a range of teas, including our original brand, black tea, genmaicha, and roasted tea…

This article was created on April 22, 2024.

Founded in 1929 by the first-generation owner, Mr. Washizo Utsuyama, Utsuyama Seicha is a long-established tea maker that began with the production of aracha from its own tea fields.

The shop offers its original brand tea “Mikatacha,” as well as “Hamana Black Tea,” a black tea made from tea leaves grown in Hamamatsu, along with hojicha, genmaicha, and more.

At Utsuyama Seicha, everything from cultivating tea leaves in its own fields to production, processing, and retail is managed entirely in-house.

With thorough quality control at every stage, the company delivers safe, high-quality tea to customers across Japan.

Located about 10 minutes by car from the Hamamatsu Nishi Interchange, Utsuyama Seicha sits along a major road connecting central Hamamatsu and the Kanzanji area, making it easy to access.

The facility features a 24-hour tea and sweets vending machine called “UTSUYAMA TEA＆SEWWTS,” allowing visitors to purchase delicious tea and sweets anytime.

The “tea bag gacha,” where you don’t know what you’ll get until you open it, is full of playful charm.

Aromatic and rich tea crafted through a unique “tokumushi” method

The tea fields managed by Utsuyama Seicha cover approximately 5 hectares.

The tea fields managed by Utsuyama Seicha cover approximately 5 hectares and are located in a fertile area surrounded by the Mikatahara Plateau, nearby mountain regions, the Tenryu River, and Lake Hamana.

Benefiting from the long hours of sunlight typical of this flatland environment, the tea leaves are carefully cultivated and processed to create a well-balanced flavor with a pleasant balance of astringency and umami.

Utsuyama Seicha’s original brand tea “Mikatacha” is crafted using a unique “tokumushi” method that preserves the shape of the tea leaves while enhancing their rich aroma.

The result is a deeply flavorful tea with a well-balanced combination of natural umami, astringency, and fragrance.

Each tea leaf is carefully finished with the dedication of skilled artisans, and this attention to detail has earned the tea many fans across Japan.

Reviving the black tea culture of the Meiji era! “Hamana Black Tea” made exclusively from rare Hamamatsu-grown tea leaves

“Hamana Black Tea,” made exclusively from tea leaves grown in Hamamatsu, was reintroduced in 2009 to mark the company’s 80th anniversary.

This project was launched with the aim of reviving the black tea culture that once flourished during the Meiji era.

When people think of black tea, they often imagine a strong astringency.

However, Utsuyama Seicha’s “Hamana Black Tea” is made using tea leaves originally intended for green tea, and is crafted through a unique production method.

As a result, it has less bitterness, offering a clean, refreshing taste with a gentle natural sweetness that can be enjoyed even without milk or sugar.

Made with a strong commitment to using tea leaves grown exclusively in Hamamatsu, “Hamana Black Tea” is a refined product created as part of an effort to revive black tea culture.

Why not enjoy this traditional flavor?

Tea is packed with a range of beneficial health effects!

Did you know that tea offers a variety of functional benefits?

Green tea contains “green tea catechins,” known for their antioxidant properties that help protect against aging, as well as caffeine, which can help prevent drowsiness and support metabolism. It is also rich in vitamin C—about five times more than lemons—along with fluoride for preventing tooth decay, theanine for relaxation, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and various minerals.

Green tea is also a zero-calorie drink, and when consumed before exercise, it is said to help the body use fat as an energy source, making it effective for supporting weight management.

Thanks to its rich vitamins and their synergistic effects, green tea offers many benefits that help support beauty and wellness from within.

Don’t throw away used tea leaves! Delicious ways to reuse them

What do you usually do with used tea leaves after brewing?

It would be a waste to simply throw them away.

Only about 20–30% of the tea’s water-soluble components are extracted during brewing.

The remaining 70–80% consists of insoluble components, meaning used tea leaves still retain a large amount of nutrients.

The main components found in used tea leaves include dietary fiber, protein, beta-carotene, vitamin E, chlorophyll, and insoluble minerals.

By using “used tea leaves” in cooking, you can enjoy and make full use of all the nutrients contained in the tea leaves.

Utsuyama Seicha Recommended “Used Tea Leaves” Recipe

Ingredients:
1. Used tea leaves
2. Bonito flakes
3. Ponzu sauce

Simply mix all ingredients in your preferred amounts, and it’s ready to enjoy!

Message from Mr. Hiro­nori Utsuyama to Our Readers

We have continued to produce safe, high-quality, and delicious tea using the methods passed down from previous generations.

While preserving the traditional taste of carefully brewed tea made with a kyusu teapot, we also create teas that meet modern needs, such as tea bags, powdered tea, and low-caffeine tea.

We hope that our tea can accompany you in moments of relaxation and bring comfort to your everyday life.

How did you enjoy it?

In this article, we introduced the long-established tea maker Utsuyama Seicha.

Tea is packed with a wide range of beneficial health effects.

Why not incorporate it into your daily life and start a “green tea wellness lifestyle”?

Utsuyama Seicha

Address: 996 Kotoh-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka

Toll-free: 0120-41-4188

Phone: 053-486-0106

Fax: 053-486-0621

e-mail: mikatacha@utsuyama.com

Business Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Closed: Wednesdays

Photo courtesy of Utsuyama Seicha

*The information in this article is subject to change.