ABOUT
Founded in the mountain village of Hoshino in Yame (Fukuoka prefecture), Hoshino Seichaen has spent nearly eight decades pursuing one goal: producing some of Japan's finest shaded teas. From its beginnings as a family tea producer, the company has gradually developed into one of the country's leading specialists in premium matcha and gyokuro while remaining deeply rooted in traditional craftsmanship. Today, Hoshino Seichaen oversees every stage of production, from cultivating its own certified organic tea gardens and selecting the finest leaves to produce Tencha, slow stone-milling matcha, and completing every finishing process within its own facilities. Since opening its dedicated Tencha factory in 1989, the company has continuously refined its techniques while preserving the philosophy that true quality is achieved through patience, precision, and experience.
The pursuit of excellence is reflected not only in the teas themselves but also in the people behind them. Hoshino Seichaen's quality is guided by generations of accumulated knowledge and by some of Japan's most accomplished tea professionals, including Tea Judging Master Shinya Yamaguchi, who became the youngest person ever to earn the prestigious 10th Dan (Tea Master) certification. Every batch is evaluated, blended, and finished with extraordinary precision to ensure consistency while preserving the distinctive character of each harvest.
Today, Hoshino Seichaen is regarded as one of the benchmark producers of matcha in Japan. Among the countless matcha we have tasted throughout our expeditions across the country, it remains one of the very few that consistently represents the highest standards of authenticity, craftsmanship, and balance. It is the matcha we most often choose for our Japanese tea ceremonies, educational masterclasses, and professional tastings, not only because of its exceptional quality, but because it continues to express everything that has made Japanese high-grade matcha admired around the world.
TERROIR
The Hoshino region, located within the renowned Yame tea-growing area of Fukuoka prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, is considered one of the country's most prestigious origins for shaded teas. Surrounded by forested mountains, the tea gardens benefit from high elevations, abundant morning mists, clean mountain water, and significant day-to-night temperature differences, creating ideal conditions for the slow development of amino acids, aromatic compounds, and natural sweetness. The mineral-rich volcanic soils of Kyushu further contribute to the remarkable depth, smoothness, and elegance that have made Hoshino teas famous throughout Japan.
Yame has long been regarded as one of the birthplaces of Japan's finest Gyokuro and is equally celebrated for producing exceptional highest-grade matcha. Within this region, Hoshino represents the highest expression of this tradition, where favourable natural conditions are matched by generations of accumulated knowledge and meticulous cultivation. The result is a terroir that consistently produces Tencha of extraordinary quality, distinguished by its vibrant colour, refined umami, creamy texture, gentle sweetness, and remarkable aromatic complexity. Hoshino matcha possesses a character that is unmistakably its own, expressing both the unique environment of Kyushu and the centuries-old tea culture of Yame.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The finely stone-milled powder displays a bright emerald green colour with an exceptionally smooth, silky texture that reflects its high-grade quality. The aroma of the dry matcha is fresh and elegant, combining notes of young spring greens, sweet cream, steamed vegetables, and delicate marine nuances. Once whisked, it forms a dense, velvety foam while releasing a rich aromatic profile with pronounced umami, subtle sweetness, and a gentle floral freshness.
The liquor is remarkably smooth and full-bodied, coating the palate with a creamy, almost buttery texture that remains light and refined. The taste opens with deep, rounded umami, followed by notes of fresh spinach, tender asparagus, sweet peas, young walnuts, and a delicate creamy sweetness, all supported by a clean mineral backbone. Virtually no astringency is present, allowing the natural sweetness and complexity to unfold gradually before giving way to a long, elegant aftertaste with lingering umami, soft vegetal freshness, and a pleasant creamy finish.