The tea farmer has developed innovative methods of optimising fertiliser and land usage. For example, part of the tea farm is shaded with solar panels which have the dual benefit of improving the quality of the tea as well as generating enough electricity to sell. The tea farmer has also cooperated with the Shizuoka Tea Research Center for many years. This work entails producing detailed analyses of soil nutrient levels at various locations on the tea farm so as to measure the efficiency of water, shade, and fertiliser on each cultivar and thereby to optimise how these resources are used. The okumidori cultivar was selected for this matcha because it flourishes in Kikugawa. Okumidori is harvested relatively late (8 days after yabukita: ばんせい, bansei), and has a deep green leaf colour that can be recognised in the matcha powder.
