PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: Atelier Aiakane's Indigo Blue Tea - Steeping Indigo Blue
Located in the Karimizu area in Obama-cho Unzen city, Nagasaki, you'll find a quiet village overlooking a picturesque blue ocean. This is the home of Atelier Aiakane.
It's in these fields surrounded by rich nature that Atelier Aiakane cultivates cotton, loquat, plum, walnut, camellia, bamboo, kiwi, fennel, lemon grass, mint, and other seasonal flowers. However, Atelier Aiakane is best known for its indigo plants.
Indigo is recognized for its vibrant blue color and is commonly used as a dye for fabric. Made famous in Japan, it also goes by the name of "Japanese blue".
The Japanese have been using indigo for centuries, not only as a dye but also as a “medicinal herb”. Indigo is said to contain antimicrobial and antioxidant ingredients while also protecting the intestinal region. As far back as the Edo era, indigo merchants were known to carry indigo in charm bags and used it to cure stomach aches. There are even accounts of it being used as an effective remedy against eating poisonous blowfish!
Although only the leaves from the indigo plant are used for dyeing, Atelier Aiakane realized the added benefits of using the whole plant including the stems, roots, flowers and seeds. They do not use any chemicals or chemical fertilizers and package each of their products individually by hand.
You'll be as impressed by the beautiful aroma and taste of Atelier Aiakane's indigo blue tea as by its breathtakingly vibrant blue color!
Company website: http://aiakane.com
