Tea producers
in a mountain village Ishikawaen
About us
Mori-machi, located in a mountainous area in western Shizuoka prefecture, is called "little Kyoto" as its landscape, with the Ohta river running through the middle of town, resembles the Arashiyama area in Kyoto.
Our company is located along the Mikura river, a branch of the Ohta river. We produce and sell green teas here.
Whether in person, by telephone, or by mail, we value each and every customer and deliver our products to them with sincere gratitude. We hope to develop a long-term relationship with each valued customer.
Our beliefs about tea production
Enshu-Mori town, located in western Shizuoka prefecture, is the most well known tea leaf production area in Japan
Our teas are produced in the abundant natural mountainous area of the Ohta river basin.
Our area's natural features and climate, such as pure water and morning mists, are ideal for fostering tea leaves, and thus make this area one of the preeminent quality tea production districts in Shizuoka.
The beliefs of our tea artisans
Belief1: Tea leaf selection
We think carefully when selecting tea materials….arachas (tea leaves that have been dried out but not yet separated out) are essential.
We assess characteristics such as the taste, aroma, water color and shape of each tea leaf, and screen each leaf strictly and carefully.
Belief 2: Finishing techniques
Each aracha has its own characteristics and unique features such as "strong aroma", "well-shaped", "rich, umami taste", "fresh green water", "fresh and juicy", "refreshing aftertaste", etc.
Using only strictly selected aracha, our tea artisans finish the tea with unique processing techniques to fully bring out each tea's characteristics.
Heating and drying in the final stage is the key.
Belief 3: Creating taste and aroma by blending
We think carefully about selection of tea materials….aracha is essential.
We assess the characteristics of each tea leaf such as taste, aroma, water color and shape, and screen them strictly and carefully.
The processes involved in making a single tea, starting with carefully selecting materials and finishing with blending, are just as delicate as masterful cooking.
Company History
- The Tenmei period
(1781-1789) - Started as a family business at present day Mori under the name Chushiro. Through the generations, the head of the family has always succeeded to run Chushiro.
- The Meiji period (1868-1911)
- While running our tea processing business as a livelihood, started to deal in local agricultural products
- The Showa period (1926-1989)
- Changed our business's name to Ishikawa-shoten, and built a plant at Nakayoko-cho in Mori
- 1985
- Established Ishikawaen Limited, which later became Ishikawaen Co. Ltd.
- 1995
- Built a new plant at Toizume, in Mori
- 2005
- Expanded our plant
- 2014
- Built a large cold-storage warehouse at Ichimiya, in Mori
Aword
For tea producers, it is a dream and a great honor to win the "Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize". In order to receive the prize, we must perfectly manage a tea plantation and finish a tea from carefully picked tea leaves using high-quality techniques. We use such techniques generously to produce our teas even for casual, everyday teas.
Awards received (competitive exhibitions)
- 1997
- Minister of International Trade and Industry Prize
- 1998
- Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize
- 1989
～1998 -
overall winner for 10 consecutive years at Enshu-Mori Tea Fair
[Shizuoka Governor's Award: four times, Osaka Governor's Award: two times] - 2013
- Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize
METI Minister Awards - 2014
- Osaka Governor's Award
Director of Agricultural Administration Kinki Region's Office Prize - 2015
- Osaka Governor's Award（GOLD）
Osaka Governor's Award（Naniwa Green） - 2016
- Osaka Governor's Award（GOLD）
METI Minister Awards（Naniwa Green）
ITQI awards received
- 2012
- 'Tama-ryokucha' (spherical green tea) two stars
- 2012
- Enshuichi-bagged typetwo stars
- 2013
- Yuzu-citrus flavored Senchatwo stars
Monde Selection Awards received
- 2008
- GOLD Enshuichi-bagged type
- 2009
-
GOLD Enshuichi-bagged type
GOLD Ocha-batake (tea garden)
GOLD Potty - 2010
-
GOLD Enshuichi-bagged type
The International High Quality Trophy Enshuichi-bagged type
Grand Gold Enshuichi-canned set
GOLD Ocha-batake (tea garden) - 2011
-
Grand GoldEnshuichi-canned set
GOLD Ocha-batake (tea garden)
The International High Quality Trophy Ocha-batake (tea garden)
Silver Gyokuro (refined green tea) for cold-brew - 2012
-
Grand Gold Enshuichi-canned set
Silver Gyokuro (refined green tea) for cold-brew
Silver Sencha (medium-grade green tea) for cold-brew
Silver Ocha-batake (tea garden)Youkan - 2013
-
Grand Gold Enshuichi-canned set
Bronze Yuzu-citrus flavored Sencha
Bronze Fuka-ama latte (sweet Matcha latte) - 2014
-
Grand Gold Enshuichi-canned set
The International High Quality Trophy Enshuichi-canned set
GOLD Enshuichi-bagged type
Silver Roman (Gyokuro blended green tea with Matcha)
Silver Roman-tea bag type - 2015
-
Awarded the Grand Gold quality label for six consecutive years Enshuichi-canned set
GOLD Ocha-batake (tea garden)
Silver Roman (Gyokuro blended green tea with Matcha)
Silver Roman-tea bag type - 2016
-
Awarded the Grand Gold quality label for seven consecutive years Enshuichi-canned set
Silver Roman (Gyokuro blended green tea with Matcha)
Silver Roman-tea bag type
Wholesale
Raw material supply
Ishikawaen deals with aromatic green tea produced in our hometown, Mori, and mountainous areas, high quality aracha produced in Shizuoka, as well as aracha from Kyushu.
Wholesale
Taking advantage of tea production know-how cultivated for more than 100 years since our founding in the Meiji period, we supply finished green teas just as our customers imagine them.
Processing on consignment
We take orders to finish processing aracha and to crush tea leaves as materials for tea bags.
We are flexible enough to process from small amounts and up to 3,000 kg, in accordance with each customer's request.
We also take mass-processing orders for beverage materials.
OEM
We produce and supply products to be sold under a customer's brand.
We handle small-lot orders, too.
- 1Interviews
- We listen to each customer's needs to develop products.
- 2Product development
- In accordance with a customer's request regarding things such as tea leaves, tea bags, or powdered tea, we select suitable materials and develop the product.
- 3Sample creation
- Once a concept is fixed, we create a sample and make a proposal.
- 4Proposal of packaging
- Based on a customer's intentions, we propose an appealing package suitable for the features of the product.
- 5Production plan
- We produce products according to a sales plan. We provide safe and reliable products by thoroughly controlling the traceability and the quality of the materials.
- 6Delivery
- We deliver reliable products to the customer's designated location.