Garyuen Horie – Hitomaruku Ceremonial Matcha (exceptional)

About Garyūen Horie

In 2000, the founder opened Garyūen Horie in Kyoto as a specialist retailer of tea utensils and tea ceremony equipment. The company produces and sells premium Uji teas with a focus on matcha. The philosophy of the business is to bring together the artistry of Japanese tea utensils with the enjoyment of authentic Uji tea.

Hitomaruku Aged Tencha Ceremonial Matcha

Crafted from traditionally grown hon sudare tencha (tencha is the tea leaf used to make matcha), Hitomaruku is an exceptional Uji matcha that celebrates centuries of Japanese tea making. The tea plants are shaded using handcrafted reed screens and rice straw, a time honoured cultivation method dating back to the Muromachi period that enhances the tea's natural sweetness and rich umami.

After harvest, the tencha is carefully matured for over 3 years, allowing the flavour to mellow while softening any bitterness. Rather than using a single cultivar, Hitomaruku is expertly blended from multiple tea varieties, creating remarkable depth, complexity and an elegant aroma that only a carefully balanced blend can achieve.

Freshly stone ground in small batches, this ceremonial matcha delivers a smooth, full-bodied cup with lingering sweetness and refined umami. A truly distinctive matcha for those seeking an authentic expression of traditional Uji craftsmanship.