Brazilian City Becomes Hub for Japanese Green Tea Production and Export

São Miguel Arcanjo, a city in São Paulo state, Brazil, has emerged as a significant center for Japanese green tea production. The city hosts the sole Brazilian factory of Yamamotoyama, a Japanese multinational with over 300 years of history. This facility produces approximately 300 tons of green tea annually, with about 80% of this output being exported, primarily to the United States. The location was chosen due to its ideal climate conditions, including a low risk of spring frosts and abundant rainfall exceeding 1,500 mm per year, essential for tea cultivation. Its logistical proximity to the Port of Santos and São Paulo city also played a crucial role in the decision. The factory cultivates tea using the Camellia sinensis plant across 104 hectares, spread over two farms. The harvest season lasts for eight months, from September to April, yielding up to ten harvests per season. Despite the Japanese origin of the tea-making techniques, the company finds greater market demand in the United States, as Japanese consumers tend to favor domestically produced teas. The global rise in popularity of matcha, a powdered green tea, has indirectly boosted the entire green tea industry, creating further export opportunities for producers like Yamamotoyama, even though they do not directly produce matcha. Tea sommelier Benício Coura notes a growing trend among younger consumers seeking healthier beverages, highlighting the sustained energy provided by tea's combination of caffeine and L-theanine. His company sources green tea from Yamamotoyama to create blended products, often combining it with fruits to appeal to a wider audience and gradually introduce consumers to the beverage's unique characteristics.