Horii Shichimeien

堀井七茗園

Horii Shichimeien (堀井七茗園) dates its founding in Uji, Kyoto, to 1879 (Meiji 12). It farms Okunoyama (奥ノ山茶園). The company calls it Uji Shichimeien’s only surviving working garden, one of seven traditionally attributed to an Ashikaga shogun. It dates the garden to 600 to 650 years ago and the Horii takeover to mid-Meiji. In 1924, Horii Chojiro developed the Horii-style tencha dryer (堀井式碾茶乾燥機). The company calls it the model for every Japanese tencha dryer. It grows, processes and sells tea in-house, led by Horii Chotaro (堀井長太郎). ‘Narisato’ won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award (日本一) at the 64th National Tea Competition in 2010.