Helping Harvest Tea-Tree Bancha in Wazuka

We joined a volunteer effort to help produce Tea-Tree Bancha (San-nen Bancha) by entering an abandoned tea field in Wazuka, Kyoto.

The work involved cutting back tea trees with scissors while clearing through dense ferns, bamboo grass, and vines. The process required several steps—cutting the branches, carrying them out of the field, removing debris, bundling the tea branches, and loading them onto a small truck. It was physically demanding but deeply rewarding work.

As we continued pruning, we harvested branches from tea trees that are also used for the Tea-Tree Bancha handled through WTEA. Standing among wild tea bushes that towered well above our height was an overwhelming experience, reminding us of the raw strength and resilience of tea plants when left to grow naturally.

Beyond the work itself, the day was also an opportunity to connect with other participants who had gathered to support the project. Through conversations, we learned that more people have recently begun relocating to Wazuka, bringing new energy to the community. Hearing these stories made us reflect on how tea can play a meaningful role not only in preserving agricultural traditions but also in addressing broader regional challenges faced by rural areas.

Experiences like this reaffirm our belief that tea is far more than an agricultural product. It has the power to connect people, revitalize communities, and create new possibilities for the future.