Flower of the Gods Wakocha - Limited edition

• Infused with sacred Ogatama “flower of the god” blossoms
• Grown near the legendary Amanoiwato shrine in Miyazaki
• Soft, sweet-spicy floral aroma with a calm, soothing taste
• A story-rich tea inspired by the sun goddess Amaterasu
  
• Super limited small-batch “Kamairi” Japanese tea : only two per customer in Japan and one per customer abroad

Ogutama Flower Black Tea - Tamayobi is from the mountains of Miyazaki, near the sacred Amanoiwato Jinja Nishi Hongu shrine in Kyushu. A tea inspired by the “Flower of the Gods” – the Ogatama blossom. This black tea, named “Tamayobi” (玉呼び, “calling the soul”), gently layers the soft, sacred scent of Ogatama flowers over carefully crafted Japanese black tea, creating a cup that feels both comforting and quietly mystical. 

Wakocha means "Japanese black tea" which is made from the same tea plant as green tea but the leaves are processed differently to create their distinct flavours. To make black tea you let the picked leaves fully oxidize (darken in contact with air) before drying them, while for green tea you stop oxidation quickly with heat. Kamairi tea is a rare Japanese tea made by pan-roasting freshly picked tea leaves in an iron kettle, giving a toasty, refreshing aroma and a clear, golden liquor.

This Japanese black tea, slowly roasted over 20 hours, is characterized by a fruity aroma and gentle sweetness, giving it a mellow mouthfeel.
It is a superb combination that enhances the appeal of both elements while preserving the scent of the ogatama flower.

The Ogatama flower has long been associated with the divine in Japan and is sometimes planted at shrines as a tree that invites and welcomes deities. Its blossoms have a creamy white appearance and a sweet, faintly spicy fragrance with a warm, slightly exotic undertone, making it feel deeper and more ambery than citrus flowers. This naturally floral character blends with the richness of black tea to give a round, soothing taste that pairs beautifully with quiet moments, sweets, or evening tea time. 

The “flower of the god” and the land of the goddess :
In Japanese tradition, the Ogatama tree (おがたまの木) is linked to Shinto belief as a sacred tree used to “invite the gods,” and branches were historically used in rituals to call down kami. Planting Ogatama near shrines symbolises a place where the divine presence is welcomed, which is why finding this flower near a shrine-rich area in Miyazaki gives the tea a strong spiritual and cultural resonance. The name “Tamayobi” evokes the idea of gently calling or inviting the soul, reflecting both the ritual role of the tree and the calming, centring character of the tea itself. 

The goddess and the cave – Amanoiwato 

The tea farm lies near Amanoiwato Jinja Nishi Hongu, a shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, one of the most important deities in Japanese mythology. According to legend, Amaterasu once hid herself in a rock cave (Amanoiwato) after a conflict with her brother Susanoo, plunging the world into darkness because her sunlight disappeared. To bring her out, the other gods gathered in front of the cave, performed a lively dance and celebration, and when Amaterasu opened the rock door in curiosity, they drew her out and restored light to the world. 

The Amanoiwato area is believed to be the very setting of this myth, and the nearby shrine venerates the rock cave associated with Amaterasu’s withdrawal. Drinking “Tamayobi” Ogatama Flower Black Tea from this landscape connects the gentle, sacred Ogatama blossom with the story of the hidden goddess and the return of light – a tea that feels like a quiet invitation for warmth, brightness, and calm to return to everyday life. 

The tea farm is a kamairi tea farm in Gokase Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, at an elevation of around 600 meters in almost the exact centre of Kyushu. To the north spreads the majestic Mount Aso, while to the west you can see Kumamoto Prefecture and, in the distance, Nagasaki’s Unzen; on clear days, a sweeping sunset view has earned the town the nickname “Sunset Village.” Kamairi tea, unlike standard sencha, is made by roasting the tea leaves in a kettle, giving a refreshing aroma and a clear golden liquor often called “golden tea,” and although it was once common in households and on many farms, it now accounts for only about 1% of Japan’s tea production, making it an extremely rare style.

10 grams
Made in Miyazaki prefecture