In a quiet village overlooking a picturesque blue ocean in Nagasaki Prefecture, Atelier Aiakane cultivates different local seasonal crops, but is best known for its indigo plants. Indigo stalks and leaves, and depending on the time of harvest, roots, seeds and flowers, are harvested, washed and dried in the sun every morning. It’s then packed by hand with butterfly-pea flowers, resulting in a floral, calming, vibrant blue when steeped.