Our company began in 1948 with our founder Hitoshi Horiguchi starting out with 1.5 hectares of land. Since that time we have expanded to 270 hectares, and have 3 factories. We are located on the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima prefecture which is one of the top 2 tea growing regions in Japan. Together with Shizuoka prefecture we produce 76% of all green tea produced in Japan (39% and 37%.) We have over 38 different cultivars and produce a wide variety of high quality products that are produced in-house and distributed both domestically and internationally.

For three generations the Horiguchi family has been growing tea and mastering the art of creating high quality, award winning teas. While other farmers were using pesticides and harsh chemicals to remove weeds and pests, we developed a machine that replicates a typhoon and can get rid of pests using only wind and water. We remove our weeds by hand, or use steam to wilt them. We take pride in creating a clean and healthy ecosystem for future generations. And you don’t need to take our word for it as we are one of the only companies to have multiple certifications on our farms AND factories to prove it.

Starting with the FSSC 22000, which is superior to HACCP and JGAP. The FSSC 22000 contains a complete certification Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems based on existing standards for certification (ISO 22000, ISO 22003 and technical specifications for sector PRPs).

We are also a proud member of The Rainforest Alliance. To obtain certification, farms must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, which is designed to conserve ecosystems, protect biodiversity and waterways, conserve forests, reduce agrochemical use, and safeguard the well-being of workers and local communities. The Rainforest Alliance encourages businesses and consumers to support sustainable agriculture by sourcing or choosing products grown on certified farms. More than 7 million hectares of farmland are being managed sustainably under Rainforest Alliance certification, as of 2018.

We proudly donate a share of our profits to the Rainforest Association because they hold themselves to high morals and values just as we do. We consider that charity an investment into our children’s future and the preservation of not only Osumi peninsula, but all the other places around the world the Rainforest Association helps preserve.

And while Food Safety Management and certifications are a must have for companies that are selling food and beverage products, we still take it one step further by testing our products with one of the most stringent and rigorous  chemical testing companies in the world, Eurofins. Chemical residue tests such as these show just how pure our green tea and matcha is.

By choosing our high quality certified Japanese green tea you can gain an advantage over your customers and create a loyal and trusting customer base.

Our products come directly from our farms. We process the tea in one of our three state of the art processing facilities. We then package the tea in our packaging facility. All of our processed tea is stored in our state of the art refrigerated warehouse. So you are getting the freshest quality tea available. All of our farms are located close to our factory requiring very little transportation of our raw products to the final packaging stage. So you can be assured you are getting tea that has one of the lowest possible carbon footprints available worldwide.

Whether you are just starting out or you are a large multinational company, we can offer you a pricing plan that works for you. We work with companies all over the world, including the largest beverage manufacturers in the world all the way down to small countryside tea shops. So if you are just starting out, we can help you get off the ground and work with you as you grow your business to any level of success.

Do you have the perfect design, and logo and are just needing a source for your Japanese green tea? No problem! We can package your tea in your specified type of container with your custom designed label and logo. Or we can ship you authentic Japanese green tea in various types of containers with no branding and you can apply your own seals to the packaging yourself. We can work with you so that you get the exact product you have in mind.

Getting started in the tea industry can be an exhilarating experience. It can also be very confusing to learn everything that comes with getting started. The science behind different types of tea, fertilizers and agrochemicals. Different brewing procedures for different types of tea. The difference between the many types of cultivars and tea. The list goes on.

Here at Wakoen, we are there for you all the way through your journey and will help you any way that we can. We have English and French speaking tea experts that can help you year-round. And you can also request to take part in our 2-month internship and get a hands on education that will have you returning with a greater edge on your competitors.

So what are you waiting for! Contact us now in English, French or Japanese.