Only when these three elements come together can Phenimax create the exceptional Matcha and Sencha we strive for.

Beyond Organic

Organic certification matters. For us, however, it is only the beginning.

No pesticides.
No chemical fertilizers.

For Phenimax, these are not special claims.
They are simply the minimum requirements.
What matters more is whether the soil itself is safe and healthy.
Tea plants absorb water and nutrients from the ground beneath them.
If the surrounding environment is contaminated, or contaminants are carried by rainwater, unwanted substances may find their way into the leaves.

That is why we believe organic certification alone is not sufficient.

Our philosophy is simple.

“If the soil is not healthy, no matter how organic it may be, I wouldn’t drink it myself and would never recommend it to anyone else.”

Not only tea, but the quality of every agricultural product begins with the soil.

Our soil is so healthy that it can even be tasted, allowing you to immediately experience the difference.

In fields that have relied on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for many years, the soil can become as hard as concrete, leaving the tea plants weak and exhausted.

The soil at Phenimax is different.
Our tea gardens are home to living soil rich in beneficial microorganisms. Soft, healthy soil allows tea plants to thrive.

Why Are Phenimax Tea Gardens Located in Remote Mountains?

Every rainfall shapes the tea.

Rain falls not only on the tea fields, but also on the surrounding mountains and forests before reaching the soil where tea is grown.

That is why we carefully select remote tea gardens where the surrounding environment has remained largely untouched by human activity.
Our commitment goes beyond avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
We believe the environment surrounding the tea is every bit as important as the tea itself.
Much like raising a child, where something grows is just as important as how it is cared for.

[Discover the PHENIMAX Tea Gardens]

[Tea Garden Introduction Video]

Even then, we do not rely on assumptions that everything is safe.

Every harvest is regularly tested for heavy metals, and we openly share the results with our customers.

[Link to Heavy-Metal Testing Page]

Choose the field.
Cultivate the soil.
Test the tea leaves.

Our starting point is so simple that some may call it selfish.
“Make the tea I want to drink.”

Then share that tea with people who value the same things we do.

That is the Phenimax way.
But our commitment does not end there.

The Finest Tea Leaves Do Not Automatically Become the Finest Tea

The finest ingredient alone cannot create something extraordinary.
The finest vegetables still require an exceptional chef to transform them into a dish.

The finest whisky still requires a master blender.
Japanese tea is no different.

Even the finest tea leaves purchased directly from the farm cannot become the finest tea without a tea master

A skilled tea master must understand the individual character of those leaves and bring them to their fullest expression.
Being a tea master is an extraordinarily demanding profession.
It requires spending the entire year studying each harvest, understanding every cultivar and every subtle change from season to season.
The character of tea changes every year.
Even within the same garden, each cultivar is different.
Long before the leaves are picked, the tea master is already envisioning the finished tea.
After harvest, the tea master must decide, on the spot, exactly how many seconds the leaves should be steamed.

[Video]

Which cultivars should be blended?
In what proportions?
How long should the final firing last?
Every decision must be made with precision before the tea can become a finished cup.

[Profile Image of Mr. Irie]

A matter of seconds can transform the color, aroma, sweetness, umami, bitterness, and lingering finish of the tea.

This is the craftsmanship behind every cup.

The quality of tea ultimately depends on the skill of the tea master behind it.
Phenimax is honored to work alongside some of Japan’s most accomplished tea masters.

Tea Master Hirayanagi, whose tea received a Gold Award at the World Green Tea Contest.
Tea Master Irie, creator of the tea served during His Majesty the Emperor’s visit to Kyushu.
Tea Master Akihiko, creator of the world’s first Wholefood Organic GABA Matcha.
Tea Master Hitomi, when asked to choose just one final thing to taste at the very end of her life, she answered without hesitation:
“Japanese tea.”

Every Phenimax tea is a work of art, created through the union of exceptional tea leaves and the skill of Japan’s finest tea masters.