A journey to explore the possibilities of vetiver.

A journey to explore the possibilities of vetiver.

An encounter, and a stirring.

The Vetiver Tea series began with an experience: Sho Nishimura, who oversees the scent and flavour of Inspice products, simmered vetiver — the only herb in the world taken from the root — in hot water and drank it as tea.

The first mouthful. A gentle, clear-running scent, as though the whole body were turning transparent. A smoky, deep flavour, like the rich energy of the earth pulsing in and flowing through. Attention turns of its own accord from the outer world to the inner, and the mind settles with a soft thud. A harmonious feeling fills you, and eases you. It was so comfortable that his eyes closed where he sat and he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, a strong wish took root: to deliver, through this vetiver, a vitality for the daily lives we are living now. Vetiver is a grass native to southern India, an Ayurvedic medicinal herb that people have kept close for 2,500 years. It is also said to be one of the herbs found in the “Buddha’s medicine chest”, among the things a monk carries during training. Hearing that there was a grower raising vetiver carefully by natural cultivation in Hoshinomura, Yame City in Fukuoka — a district known for its tea — we made contact and went to see the place for ourselves.

Hoshinomura. The vetiver fields.

Hoshinomura is a very beautiful village. Blessed with clear skies, Hoshinomura in August — the nature spreading out, the air, the passing of time — all of it gives off a glitter, and you could almost hear the vetiver raised by this land voicing its gladness.

On arriving, we heard a great deal from Eri Katayama, who leads the growing of vetiver on this land: her passion for vetiver, the story of Hoshinomura, her own view of nature. There was much to learn.

And then, at last, to the vetiver fields. Riding on the bed of a light truck, we make our way along the mountain road. Beyond air so clean you feel you could eat it, the vetiver field opens out. It gives the feeling of looking at a landscape held somewhere in a distant memory.

The August vetiver was still green and thick. Leaves reaching up and up toward the sky, roots stretching down to take a firm hold of the earth — the sight of the two looks like the very source of the strength vetiver has.

By Ms Katayama’s kindness, I was allowed to pull up a plant myself. Carefully, so the roots would not tear. And yet at the same time it takes a good deal of force — vetiver has the earth firmly in its grip and does not come away easily. For a first attempt, it seems I did well. Thank you for letting me pull you up, vetiver.

A herb of wonders, full of possibility.

Back from the field, what eased a body flushed with heat was vetiver again. I cannot forget how good the iced tea Ms Katayama brewed was. No wonder, either: in India, where it comes from, it is drunk as something you cannot do without for keeping your strength through the fierce heat. It has also long been prized as a plant that makes daily life more comfortable. A sudare, a hanging screen woven from bundled vetiver roots, keeps off the strong sunlight; water is thrown over it now and then, and the heat of vaporisation draws out a coolness. A cool, sweet-scented breeze seems to blow in.

And on nights too close for sleep, they chop the vetiver root and put it into the pillow. The root also has the effect of bringing down heat, so one can fall asleep cool and wrapped in a good scent.

Back to food.

As with the way people speak of terroir in wine, a plant of the same variety takes on differences in taste and scent according to the environment that raises it, and those differences become its character. Vetiver is no different. The vetiver of Hoshinomura in Yame grows into a scent so mellow and gentle that vetiver from abroad does not bear comparison. That the finest vetiver for enjoying as a delicate tea can be harvested here in Hoshinomura in Japan is a source of great gladness and gratitude to us.

At Inspice we go on exploring the possibilities of vetiver, this herb of wonders with charm to spare. Beginning with the VETIVER TEA series, we will deliver products and experiences that give vitality to the daily lives we are living now, and that help make each day fun, glad and delicious.

May this gift from the earth, vetiver, reach as many people as it can.

With nature, naturally.