Suntory | Products and the Service | Iyemon

Premium tea deserves premium water. In order to draw out the full flavor of carefully selected tea leaves, the purest natural water from Yamazaki, was selected for Iyemon.

As well as tea leaf selection, the water used to brew tea significantly affects the taste and flavor. In general, "junsui" (pure water without any impurities) is used for bottled green teas. Teas brewed with pure water deliver a clean taste with a strong aroma, reflecting the characteristics of the tea leaf. This is an indispensable factor for bottled green teas that quickly quench thirst.

With Iyemon, however, we pursued the rich flavor of authentic Japanese tea brewed in a teapot. This flavor is drawn out by an adequate amount of minerals contained in water itself. Given this factor, our search for water with the right minerals began. Soft water with less mineral content goes well with green tea. Hard water with higher mineral content does not dissolve the natural contents of tea leaves very well, making it difficult to draw out the full flavor. On the other hand, an adequate amount of minerals reduces any unpleasant tastes while adding smoothness and mellowness.

Finally, spring water from Yamazaki, located on the outskirts of Kyoto, was selected.
Yamazaki, known as the home of Japanese whiskies, is famous for its premium spring water, discovered by the late Sinjiro Torii, founder of Suntory, who traveled around Japan in pursuit of premium natural water. The water, nurtured by the river systems of Tenno Mountain and Kyoto's Nishiyama, contains ideally balanced minerals, while maintaining the mildness inherent in soft water. Spring water from Yamazaki and the most purified water produce "highly aromatic tea with a clean taste" and "mild tea with a rich flavor." Combining the two teas with ideal balance, Iyemon delivers the authentic flavor of Japanese tea, reminiscent of the taste of tea brewed in a teapot.

Emperor Gotoba, feudal lord Hideyoshi, and tea master Sen no Rikyu. The water loved by many historical figures is found in Yamazaki.

Myokian Temple was established in the latter half of the Muromachi Period by Shugaku, a monk of the Tofukuji Temple. The Taian teahouse, creation of Rikyu, stands quietly on the premises. Hideyoshi Toyotomi, famous ruler in this era, is said to have frequented this teahouse, now designated as a National Treasure. Yamazaki, formerly called Minaseno ("field where water originates"), has been famous as a scenic area with abundant water since the imperial dynasty era.

Minase Shirine, standing on the site of the Minase Palace of Emperor Gotoba, is famous for its spring water, named one of the "100 best spring waters of Japan." The shrine is popular with visitors who come for the taste of the famous spring water. In the teahouse, many grand tea masters conduct tea ceremonies using the "Rikyu no mizu" (water of the Minase Palace) every year, passing on the culture of Japanese tea unchanged since the Edo Period.

Nurtured through the geological stratum of Tenno Mountain and Kyoto's Nishiyama, and sourced from the same water vein as the famous "water of the Minase Palace," the Yamazaki spring water is Japan's premium water best suited for premium tea.