"I LOVE TEA" by Kit Kat

Kit Kat (Nestle Group) will release its new products, “Kit Kat Chocolatoly ‘I LOVE TEA’” on April 1st. You can enjoy five different flavored Kit Kat; Gyokuro, Hojicha, Genmaicha, Oolong and black tea.

"I LOVE TEA" (I do too!!)
photo by Nestle Group

According to the company, the combination of the abundant tea leaves and the flavorful chocolate creates a miraculous taste. Also you will be impressed by its appearance because you can see the leaves in it. 

Photo by Nestle Group

Matcha Kit Kat is already on the market and selling well. Especially, they are so popular among the tourists from overseas. I believe this new “I LOVE TEA” version will attract many not only tourists but Japanese too.

Photo by Nestle Group

The Longest in the World ! - tea dumplings -

Uji city in Kyoto is known as one of the most famous tea-producing areas. Now Uji is officially recognized “the best in the world”.:-) 

by Kyoto Shingun

On March 6, there was an entertainment to apply for recognition of their record in the Guinness Book there, which is to line up tea-dumplings, known as "cha-dango" as long as possible!

Around 2,000 people joined it and kept lining up the dumplings for three hours. It was shorter than their original plan, but still about 16,000 dumplings, app.342 meters in length, were lined up. Of course, it was recognized by the Guinness Book as the longest in the world! They raised their “tea cups” in a toast and celebrated their achievement.

When you happen to visit Uji, don't miss "cha-dango" with Uji tea!

Appreciate Sakura with Tea - Shizu 7132 -

Sakura is always always special for Japanese. The long-awaited season of 2016 is just around the corner!

Did you know sakura is a feast not only for eye but for palate?

During the season, sakuramochi is seen here and there. It is a Japanese sweet consisting of sweet pink-colored rice cake (mochi) with a red bean paste, and wrapped in a pickled sakura leaf. Yes, you can taste its actual leaf. A must-have sweet during the season, right?

Sakuramochi

Surprisingly, you can also feel the taste of it from a Japanese tea…on one condition. You have to have green tea produced from “shizu7132” cultivar. It’s rich in  a natural fragrant substance, known as “coumarin”, which is also found in many plants including sakura. In other word, both sakura and shizu7132 have the same natural substance.

Unfortunately, the shizu7132 tea cannot be seen everywhere. The cultivar is still rare. When you are lucky enough, enjoy the bouquet of Japanese spring!