Fukamushi Kikugawacha

Fukamushi Kikugawacha is a registered geographical indication (GI) product produced in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, prepared using a deep-steaming method. The term "fukamushi" means "deep-steaming" in Japanese, and this method emerged around 1952 when it was discovered that the region's tea leaves could be used to produce teas with a low astringency. This green tea, with a yellow-green color, low astringency, and a mild flavor, is appreciated by consumers for its umami and full-bodied flavor.

For over 100 years, Kikugawa City and surrounding municipalities have used a traditional agricultural method that involves mulching tea fields with grasses mowed from semi-natural meadows, called "chagusaba," to provide organic matter. This method has created a semi-natural meadow landscape intertwined with the tea fields, leading to both high-quality tea production and biodiversity conservation. This harmony of agriculture and biodiversity was recognized in 2013 when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) designated the "Traditional Teagrass Integrated System in Shizuoka" as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). A tea farming cooperative was also established in the region ahead of the rest of the country to systematically develop production technology and achieve mass production.

Fukamushi Kikugawacha's production area encompasses the city of Kikugawa in Shizuoka Prefecture and several surrounding municipalities. This region is warmer than other tea-producing regions, and the long hours of sunlight yield thick, catechin-rich tea leaves. Tea production involves two main processes: aracha , which is the processing of fresh leaves , and finishing.

In aracha processing facilities, fresh tea leaves are steamed and heated using machines approved in accordance with standards established by the Kikugawa Green Tea Industry Association. The steaming time and heating must be adequate to ensure the tea is low in astringency and of high quality. The steamed leaves are processed into aracha through stages such as coarse rubbing, twisting, medium rubbing, delicate rubbing, and drying. Only aracha that has undergone this process is used, and the finishing process is carried out in factories in Shizuoka Prefecture that have the technology and facilities required for Fukamushi Kikugawacha finishing.

Fukamushi Kikugawacha, also known as "Fukamushi Kikugawacha" and "Kikugawa Fukamushicha," is a Geographical Indication (GI) product. The product has a Registration Number of 130 and is registered as a Class of Processed Foodstuff. Its Protection Date is 2023/03/31. The applicant is the Kikugawashi Chagyo Kyokai (Kikugawa Green Tea Industry Association).