Landscaping Company Transforms Abandoned Farmland on Awaji Island into Tea Tree Plantation, Launches Essential Oil Brand with In-House Distillation

Harvesting at maf's tea tree farm. Tsumura Zoen Co., Ltd. (Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture) has launched "maf," an essential oil brand that handles the entire process from cultivation to distillation of tea trees, after regenerating abandoned farmland on Awaji Island. Leveraging knowledge gained from over 50 years of working with greenery as a landscaping company, they have established a farm with an adjacent distillation facility. By distilling the harvested branches and leaves on the same day, they produce a fresh and pure fragrance. They aim to expand both domestically and internationally as a new regional industrial model combining agriculture and distillation. ▼ maf's official website (opened May 18, 2026) https://maf-essential.jp *Product sales will begin on June 1. Transforming Abandoned Land into a "Fragrance Industry" The number of abandoned cultivated lands continues to increase throughout Japan. On Awaji Island as well, cases where farmland once tended by people is no longer used are not uncommon. maf was launched as an initiative to rebuild the relationship between land, industry, and people by re-cultivating such land, planting tea trees, and extracting their fragrance. The scenic view of Awaji Island from the farm. A New Business Area for a Landscaping Company This project is undertaken by Tsumura Zoen Co., Ltd., a company based on Awaji Island that has been designing, constructing, and managing gardens and green spaces for over 50 years. Fascinated by tea trees while working with plants, they utilized their accumulated knowledge of soil improvement and planting management to transform former abandoned farmland into a tea tree plantation. Furthermore, they have built a system to maximize the value of the plants by not only cultivating but also handling the distillation process in-house. maf's well-maintained plantation. "Farm to Bottle" - From Cultivation to Distillation maf's key feature is that the entire process from tea tree cultivation, harvesting, to distillation is carried out on Awaji Island. The plantation is located in the Higashiura area in the northeastern part of Awaji Island, an environment blessed with a temperate climate, abundant eastward sunlight, and the influence of the sea breeze. The tea trees grown on this land are harvested throughout the year, mainly in the morning. Selected branches and leaves are immediately sent for distillation. By having a distillation facility near the farm, it is possible to produce essential oil while the plants are still fresh. Careful pruning is done by hand, one branch at a time. Distillation Technology that Determines Fragrance Quality They use a steam distillation method with indirect heating. Furthermore, by using a completely sealed facility, they can extract delicate aromatic components that are prone to volatilization without letting them escape. This process results in an essential oil with a fresh and clear scent profile. Another feature is its fragrance profile, with terpinolene as the main component, giving it a unique character nurtured by the climate and environment of Awaji Island. The distillation facility located near the farm. Tea Trees Growing with the Awaji Island Landscape Awaji Island, nurtured by the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and abundant sunlight, is also a land with a culture deeply connected to fragrance, such as incense and medicinal herbs, since ancient times. At maf, they aim to cultivate tea trees while utilizing the local climate and human touch, not just as an agricultural product, but to extract the landscape itself as a fragrance. The process of tea tree distillation. Product Lineup maf product lineup: ・maf Essential Oil | Tea Tree (5ml) ¥3,520 ・maf Room Spray | no.01 (100ml) ¥6,380 ・maf Cold Process Soap | MA (110g) ¥2,750 ・A box set containing the above items ¥13,420 These essential oil products will be available for public sale on the website starting June 1. In addition, they are considering supplying raw materials to domestic and international brands and therapists (BtoB). They also plan to offer experience-based programs centered on fragrance, such as distillation workshops and farm tours. [maf] maf is an essential oil brand born from re-cultivating untouched farmland on Awaji Island and growing vibrant tea trees unique to this land. From an island that lives in harmony with nature, we will weave a new culture of fragrance into the future. [Tsumura Zoen Co., Ltd. (Representative: Tomohiro Tsumura)] A landscaping company based on Awaji Island with over 50 years of experience in designing, constructing, and managing gardens and green spaces. Fascinated by tea trees while working with plants as a landscape artisan, he launched the essential oil brand "maf," handling everything from cultivation to distillation himself. He continues to take on new challenges connecting the nature of Awaji Island with human hands.