“We are what we eat”
Su-balance’s natural, additive-free powdered tea
In Nara, there is a person who is producing food with consideration for people’s health. Sumie Nakanishi, a registered dietitian, launched her own brand “Su-Balance” in 2018.
The story of her new tea, using organically grown green tea which is often praised as a “Japanese Super Food” arose from her professional knowledge as a dietitian to balance the mind in a circulatory flow between those who produce the crops with sincerity, and the people who enjoy them.
The most famous areas in Japan for Japanese tea are
Uji in Kyoto or Shizuoka. However, in fact, Nara has a deep connection with the tea that was originally brought to Japan. The history of tea passed down from this time is still rooted in Nara and is known as “Yamato-cha.” The origin of Yamato-cha dates back to 806, when Kobo Daishi (Kukai) brought back tea seeds from the Tang Dynasty of China and planted them in the area called Uda in Nara. It is said that this is the beginning of when the tea manufacturing method was introduced in Japan.
Yamato-cha grows in cool mountainous areas where the altitude, average temperature, and rainfall are ideal for tea cultivation. This well-balanced climate and geography allow for a harvest of high quality and tasty green tea.
Sumie wanted to use Yamato-cha as a first step for making Su-Balance’s first product and she decided on Ochazuke (a popular Japanese home dish made by pouring tea or broth over cooked rice with savory toppings).
Sumie thought of the original point where she started to be interested in food. “My mother was born into a farmer’s family and had a vegetable garden. There were other farms in our eighborhood, so we often received vegetables and fruits from them, too. The meals I had in my childhood consisted mainly of my mother’s homemade cooking using local produce. When I left my parents’ home and began living alone, my eating habits were disrupted, and my diet changed. As a result, I often felt unwell.”
“Later, when studying to become a registered dietitian, I learned about food additives. I noticed for the first time that I was able to enjoy a ‘food additive-free life’ when I was a child, thanks to my family. Since then, I became conscious of reducing the amount of additives that are harmful to our body.” “My concerns about food additives became even greater when my daughter, now in junior high school, was born with terrible allergies. I realized that many of the foods she loved contained food additives which made her sick. I wanted my daughter to be able to eat what she loved as much as she wanted, and since there was no such foods she could enjoy, I thought, ‘I’ll make them myself!’
That was the beginning of Su-Balance. “Many tea farmers are involved in the SU-CHA Blend. Each blend has one thing in common: the farmers grow their tea leaves with the utmost care, using no pesticides, so as to carefully preserve the natural flavor of the tea,” “We are what we eat. Su-Balance is still a very small brand I started by myself, however, I’m confident and proud of my products and all the people involved in. ‘Su’ means ‘natural’ or ‘as it is.’ I hope my products can help people live ‘naturally’ and enjoy their life ‘as they are.’”
Sumie Nakanishi
(National Registered Dietitian /Food Coordinator / Cafe Planner)
Sumie launched the brand “Su-balance” in 2018 as a result of her
own child’s allergy, and produces additive-free “Ochazuke” (a popular Japanese home dish made by pouring hot green tea or broth over rice with savory toppings) using Nara’s famous “Yamato Tea” local tea leaves as powdered tea. “Su-Cha Blend” is made from whole tea leaves in a fine powder without using pesticides, and like all of her products, contributes to helping to make people’s body and mind healthier.
Su-Balance’s Powdered Tea:
① Green Tea Blend (200cc water + per 1g powdered tea: 23mg caffeine, 130mg catechins) The “Green Tea Blend” mixes different kinds of green tea leaves from three farms in Nara and offers a perfect balance of aroma, taste, astringency, bitterness, and nourishment. It is rich in nutrients (catechins, vitamin E, K, C, dietary fiber, and more) and keeps your body well-balanced.
② Houjicha Blend (200cc water + per 1g powdered tea: 19mg caffeine, 106mg catechins) The unique aroma and flavor of roasted green tea soothes your mind. It has a simple taste with slight bitterness or astringency. As it contains less caffeine than green tea, it is recommended for children and pregnant women.
③ Green Tea & Lemongrass (200cc water + per 1g powdered tea: 17mg caffeine, 98mg catechins) Adding lemongrass to nutritious green tea makes this blend even more refreshing. Recommended for your relaxation and refreshment.
④ Hojicha Brown Sugar & Ginger (200cc water + per 3g powdered tea: 11mg caffeine, 64mg catechins) Ginger will warm your body up and the natural sweetness of the brown sugar will ease your mind. The fragrant aroma of hojicha, tangy ginger, and a hint of brown sugar sweetness is the best choice when you need a break.
Contact Su-Balance for purchasing inquiries: