ーーーThe seasonal "Tea Crackers" series is also popular.
Mr. Akita: We sell "Cool Tea Crackers" in the summer and "Luxury Tea Crackers" in the fall. The tea leaves used in the "Cool Tea Crackers" are different, and white chocolate is kneaded into the dough instead of being sandwiched between the tea leaves. The taste of dark tea can be felt more clearly, and the light texture is perfect for summer.

Luxury Tea Crackers," now in its fourth year of sale, is sold in connection with the tea ceremony called "Kuchikiri," in which the tea pots are unsealed around the time of the first winter in November after they have been matured for about six months. Because it is made from precious tea leaves with concentrated sweetness and flavor, it is produced in limited quantities.

Some customers look forward to this time of year because the tea is as flavorful as if they were drinking the thick tea itself.

What kind of innovations have you made to the packaging?
Mr. Akita: I wanted the concept of the product to ooze from the package. We chose a simple white lid because we wanted the green "Cha-no-Ka" to look like a tea plantation when opened. I wanted to create a clear image of a tea plantation that I visited when I was developing the "Cha no Kwa" product.

It seems unlikely that a transparent film would be used for matcha confections, whose color is easily affected by light and oxidation, but we wanted to make the first impression when the box is opened.

To compensate for this, the outer box is light-shielding. We also pay attention to the texture of the box, and are conscious of its luxury and elegance so that it will be appreciated no matter where you take it or to whom you give it.

The Kiyomizu-zaka store features an image of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, while the Arashiyama store features an image of the Wataratsuki Bridge.

Please tell us about your future goals.
Mr. Ezaki／Thankfully, production has increased considerably since its launch in 2007, but we hope that we will not lose quality in the future, and that "Cha no Kana" will continue to be a long-loved confectionery in Kyoto.

For me, "Cha no Kana" is the fulfillment of my dream of creating a long-selling product. It is a miracle that so many people are enjoying our products.

Although all of the staff members interviewed for this report live in Kyoto, I learned many things only after interviewing them, and I was impressed by their commitment to each and every detail.
The fact that the taste and aroma of powdered green tea can be felt in the tea snacks, that they are a beautiful green color, and that they are packaged in a transparent wrapping bag, all of which I had taken for granted, were the result of the development team's ingenuity, persistence, and thoughtfulness. I was convinced once again why there are so many fans of "Cha-no-Ka". I think we can recommend "Cha no Kaca" more proudly than ever before as a souvenir when visiting distant places or when inviting guests. It is also a perfect souvenir to take back home during the year-end and New Year's holidays.