Introduction
The award-winning Kuma family (Yame Tea Kumaen) has been farming tea in the mountains of the famous Yame region in Fukuoka for three generations.
The Family
Japanese tea instructor Kazumi Nakatani manages Kuma Tea Gardens as a brand representing her tea farmer uncles and cousins, and uses her expert palette to design exquisite sencha and gyokuro teas from the leaves farmed by her extended family.
Cousin Masahiro Kuma is quickly becoming a legend in Japan, having won the top prize (Minister's Award) for the gyokuro tea category at the 2017 National Tea Competition.
Masahiro Kuma (with his wife and newborn baby) receives the Minister's Award from Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa
Awards
Listed below are the awards won at national level competitions. (Local / regional awards not listed to save space.)
- 4th National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
- 4th National Tea Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
- 21st National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Gold Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
- 33rd National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Gold Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
- 43rd National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Bronze Medal, Kuma
- 67th National Tea Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Kuma
- 9th National Gyokuro Steeping Competition, Winner, Kazumi Nakatani
- 69th National Tea Competition, Gyokuro Division, Silver Medal, Shota Kuma
- 100th Anniversary of the Export of Japanese Tea, Commemorative Competition, Sencha Division, Bronze Medal, Hiroyuki Kuma
Garden Info
- Name: Kuma Tea Garden
- Farmer: Kuma Masahiro.
- Farm Location: Yame, Fukuoka
