Hiroshi Honda

For my family, tea has never been simply a crop.

It has been a lifelong pursuit of understanding nature—how it changes, how it responds, and how we can work alongside it rather than against it.

Since the founding of Miyazaki Kamimizuen in 1896, four generations of our family have cultivated tea in southern Japan. Throughout that time, we have experienced changing climates, evolving technologies, and new challenges that have continually reshaped the industry. Yet one principle has remained unchanged: the best tea emerges when we learn from nature rather than trying to control it.

A turning point came in 1979, when a severe late frost damaged tea fields throughout the region. Instead of accepting the loss as unavoidable, we began searching for a deeper understanding of what had happened. Through years of observation, experimentation, and study, we developed cultivation methods that not only protected the plants but also strengthened their natural vitality.

This spirit of curiosity eventually led to the creation of Bio Tea in 1986, Japan’s first commercially produced cold-brew tea. At a time when tea was almost always prepared with hot water, Bio Tea offered a new way to experience tea’s natural sweetness, clarity, and refreshment. What began as an agricultural innovation soon gained recognition among athletes, sports teams, and health-conscious consumers seeking a clean and enjoyable source of hydration.

For me, innovation is not about changing tea for the sake of novelty. It is about uncovering possibilities that already exist within nature and finding thoughtful ways to bring them forward.

Today, we continue to oversee every stage of production—from cultivation and processing to distribution—with the same mindset that has guided our family for generations. We remain committed to tea that reflects both scientific curiosity and deep respect for the natural world.

Every harvest teaches us something new. That is why, even after more than a century, our journey of discovery continues.