“Delicious tea over beautiful tea — just like people, it’s what’s on the inside that truly counts. That’s why we defy conventional standards and commit to deep-steamed tea with a high-temperature roasting.” - Hiroyuki Sugimoto
Since our establishment in 1946, Sugimoto Tea Company has been dedicated to crafting tea loved by everyday tea drinkers from all walks of life. Our specialty lies in fukamushi, or deep-steamed tea, sourced directly from the local Kanaya region of Shizuoka prefecture. Due to the long steaming process, these tea leaves become finer and may not look like your typical green tea. However, this longer steaming process results in less bitterness and accentuates the tea leaf’s natural sweetness and umami.
One of the final steps in tea making is hi-ire, used to dry the leaves. The Sugimoto family's unique hi-ire uses high temperatures that most tea leaves can't handle. However, Hiroyuki Sugimoto discovered that tea leaves from Shizuoka’s mountainous regions could endure this heat. Selecting these leaves requires close collaboration with local farmers. For three generations, Sugimoto Tea Company has partnered with Japanese farmers, fostering deep relationships based on trust. This ensures we get the finest leaves for our signature hi-ire, making our teas exceptional.
Within the world of Japanese tea, conventional wisdom dictates that the appearance of the leaf must be maintained through a moderate use of heat during the hi-ire process. However, Sugimoto Tea Company goes against the grain in pursuit of teas that our customers will love and drink every day. So, as you hold your teacup to your lips, please enjoy the profound aroma of the Sugimoto family’s remarkable deep-steamed teas.
We offer Sencha, Matcha, Hojicha and more.