Kojima Seicha has 60K and 35K lines of equipment, and can produce 1,500kg to 2,000kg of fresh buds per day.
[Tea manufacturing process]
The tea manufacturing process differs depending on the variety, but it is roughly as follows: [Picking] → [Steaming] → [Rolling] → [Drying] → [Finishing]. At each step, not only knowledge of tea manufacturing, but also skilled techniques and experience are very important to produce high-quality Uji tea.
[Tea picking process]
High-quality Uji tea is made by skilled hand-picking.
To produce high-quality Uji tea, the first and foremost skill in hand-picking the tea leaves is essential.
Mechanical picking does not produce high-quality tea as unwanted tea leaves and foreign objects may get mixed in.
At Kojima Seicha, we believe that the basis of Uji tea production is for experienced tea pickers to identify and pick the necessary tea leaves.
[Tea rolling process]
A hand-kneading method that requires a high level of skill.
The rolling process of tea leaves involves rough rolling, medium rolling, and fine rolling. This is the most important process in determining the flavor of Uji tea.
At Kojima Tea, we use the hand-rolling method for this process, which is based on the traditional hand-rolling technique.
[Traditional techniques]
In the hand-rolling method, the rolling process is based on the "Uji tea manufacturing method (hand-rolling)" that has been handed down for generations to produce high-quality tea .
The Uji tea manufacturing method was perfected through successive improvements based on the Aosei Sencha manufacturing method invented by Nagatani Soshichiro (Soen) of Ujitawara-cho in 1738. Currently, the Uji Tea Manufacturing Technology Preservation Association, an organization that preserves the technique, has been designated an intangible cultural property by the government, and training sessions are held every year at the Kyoto Prefectural Tea Research Institute.
Even when rolling by machine, the technique and principle are the same as for hand rolling, so to produce high-quality Uji tea, it is necessary to master advanced hand rolling techniques. At Kojima Tea, we are committed to advanced hand rolling techniques that bring out the depth, mellowness and aroma of Uji tea , and we carry out the rolling process of the tea leaves.
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