RAVE: OUR JOURNEY INTO JAPANESE TEA
A Great Tea Is Like a Great Wine
For us, a great Japanese tea is like a great wine. It’s a masterpiece created by terroir — a unique combination of climate, soil, topography, cultivar, and the maker’s conscious and continuous efforts. That’s why we focus on single estate Japanese teas that truly represent the beauty of each production region. We are open and transparent, always disclosing where and by whom our teas are grown.
Our First Encounter with Japanese Tea
Our journey began 10 years ago with a single sip of Yame Green Premium. Until then, we were immersed in Chinese teas from Yunnan, Guangdong, and Fujian — teas of every color, full of unique aromas and character. By comparison, Japanese senchas all seemed the same. Or so we thought.
That one cup of Yame Green Premium changed everything. It was the first sencha that made us say “WOW.” From that moment, our exploration of Japanese tea began.
The Journey to Yame, Fukuoka
Curiosity took us directly to the source. We boarded a plane to Fukuoka, then a Shinkansen, and finally a local bus deep into the mountains of Yame — a small yet prestigious tea-growing region in Southwest Japan. There, we met Harashima-san, head of a fifth-generation tea family, and his wife Eri-san.
We tasted cold-brewed gyokuro and countless sencha infusions, then walked the fields together, feeling the terroir with every breath of mountain air, every sip of spring water, and every plump leaf between our fingers. That was the beginning of a relationship and a philosophy that still defines RAVE today.
Building Our Farmer A-Team
Over the last decade, we built strong partnerships with tea farmers across Japan. This farmer A-Team provides us with some of the rarest finds in the Japanese tea world — from gyokuro to ceremonial matcha, from single estate senchas to seasonal specialties. Even our “basic” line is made from limited single estate harvests.
Unlike traditional tea merchants, we never blend teas from multiple farms. Every tea we offer is from a single estate, honoring the unique terroir and the work of each tea master.
What Makes RAVE Different
We believe teas are like wines — each one a living masterpiece shaped by nature, farming practices, and the skill of its maker. With over 20 years of combined experience in the tea industry, we bring these masterpieces to restaurants, cafés, hotels, and tea lovers around the world.
At RAVE Estate, we want people everywhere to rave with us about Japanese tea. Whether it’s ceremonial matcha, single estate sencha, or rare gyokuro, we are here to share the best of Japan’s tea heritage.
Join the RAVE
We are now ready to spread our love even further. Discover our selection of Japanese teas, from everyday drinkers to rare single harvests, and join us in celebrating the artistry of tea.
At RAVE Estate, we provide:
- Single estate Japanese teas: Sencha, matcha, gyokuro, and more
- Rare finds: Limited harvest teas sourced directly from farmers
- Transparency: Always disclosing origin and producer
- Experience: Over a decade working with Japan’s top tea makers
We RAVE about tea, and we want you to RAVE with us.
Sincerely,
The RAVE Estate Team