Snowing Mountain Tea in Yabe, Yame city

 【Wakocha by Mr Harashima at Yabe village, Yame city in Fukuoka】  

Yabe village is surrounded by mountains at 500-650 meters above sea level in Yame city, one of the well-known tea producing areas. Winter in the village is really harsh, and the tea fields are blanketed with snow at this time of year. The tea goes into hibernation while reserving nutrients, and wait long for spring. Mr Harashima produces beautiful organic tea including Sencha, Gyokuro, Wakocha (black tea), Hojicha etc. using such delicate but hardy buds and leaves. 

 

His wakocha, Yabukita cultivar, has a citrusy note with a hint of woodiness. Nicely round texture.

Samurai Wakocha

<Wakocha by Mr Yamamoto, SAMURAI Teafarm in Makinohara, Shizuoka>

Mr Yamamoto’s ancestors served for Tokugawa shogunate, and started to develop Makinohara area for tea prod.uction in 1872. Their samurai spirit is still inherited in the name of the “SAMURAI teafarm”. The current owner, Mr Morihiko Yamamoto, is the 5th generation to run the farm, producing "tokumushicha" (deeper steamed fukamushicha) and wakocha (Japanese black tea) and so the list goes on.

1) His 2nd flush Benifuki cultivar's wakocha, bitten by leaf hopper, has a flowery note with a lingering finish

2) Roasted leafhopper-bitten 2nd flush Benifuki wakocha 

He roasts the tea meticulously, giving it a deep amber colour, and sweet flavour like ripened fruit and honey. When cool down, the beautiful fragrance stands out more, and it lasts long in a cup. 

Their Samurai spirit inherited from ancestors is also in the package:-). 

Virtual Locally-Grown Tea Convention 2020

Annual national locally-grown tea convention hosted by a tea-growing village, Hinohara in Tokyo. Tea growers (who produce green tea and experimental teas like black tea) and tea lovers joined the event focusing on Japanese experimental teas. Unlike other years, it was a virtual event by REMO. 25 different kinds of wakocha (Japanese black tea), and a tea scoop made from the local cedar were sent to all the guests in advance. 

On that day, attendees enjoyed chatting with tea growers in a small group to ask about their tea while drinking, which was a great opportunity for all. 

After the event, I was honored to be invited to a meeting for 25 tea growers and stull members too. Good to hear that they exchanges their opinions about tea production to refine their tea, how they appeal tea to customers, how they pass down tea industry to next generations  etc.....Unfortunately, the consumption of tea has been decreasing, but their passion and sincerity will make it happen :-)