Second generation of Japanese tea store opens
AOBA Tea Dealer And Retailer is a tea specialty shop located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. It was opened in March 2021 by Fukuto Iijiro, the second generation of Aobaen, a Japanese tea specialty shop operating in Saitama Prefecture. In addition to Japanese tea, the shop sells over 100 varieties of tea, including Indian black tea, Taiwanese oolong tea, flavored tea, and herbal teas. The shop operates with a British-style bulk-selling approach.
The owner, Fukuto, spent 7 years training his tea skills at the Shizuoka tea company before traveling to the UK. In the UK, he worked at the London flagship store of Fortnum & Mason, known as a royal warrant holder, where he served as the only Japanese tea master, showcasing his expertise in tea.
Upon returning to Japan in 2020 and after working with an Indian tea brand, Fukuto finally opened AOBA Tea Dealer And Retailer.
British style of weighing and selling
At AOBA Tea Dealer And Retailer, Fukuto makes his extensive knowledge and experience in teas acquired domestically and internationally, as well as his global connections. He independently manages everything from purchasing to blending and sales. The shop interior features a tea counter similar to those found in British tea specialty shops, offering a wide range of tea, including green tea, black tea, and herbal tea, all available for bulk purchase.
Customers can sit at the tea counter lined with tea boxes, receive gentle service from Fukuto, and carefully taste the tea they are interested in, allowing them to make informed tea selections.
Focus on blending techniques
The lineup of Japanese tea consists mainly of blended varieties of sencha, along with around 50 other options like hojicha, genmaicha, and matcha. Tea from various regions, including Saitama’s Sayama, Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and Ibaraki, is also available.
All the black teas are original products, with a focus on blends from India and Sri Lanka. Fukuto personally oversees the blending process and even creates the flavors for flavored tea.
The flavored tea is crafted to offer both the natural deliciousness of tea and the rich aromas of the blend materials, catering to those who may be a little sensitive to flavors.
Additionally, the shop stocks over 100 types of tea, including Jasmine tea based on Chinese green tea, Taiwanese oolong tea, and herbal teas. They can offer the most suitable tea recommendations for customers’ preferences and requests.
After the tasting session, customers can decide on the tea they want to purchase and have their preferred quantity packed into tea bags in 10g units, right on the spot.
The shop even deals with the production of original blend teas starting from 500g of tea leaves. If you’re interested in creating your own blend tea for the shop or wish to gift an original blend tea to someone special, don’t hesitate to consult Fukuto.
Store information
Address: 4-4-6 Sun Green TakaF, Sunashinden, Kawagoe City, Saitama
Phone: 049-244-9123
Opening hours: 11am-7pm
Closed on Fridays
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