Classical Music-Fed Tea

I'm not well versed in classical music, but the music would give the elegant and graceful essence to my life. What will happen if "tea" listen to the music while growing?

Some green tea called "Mozart Tea" and "Chopin Tea" are on the market. The leaves listen the music everyday during the time from the buds are out till the leaves are plucked. I don't know how the classical music affect the tea's aroma and flavor. 

In any case, they are "well-bred" tea, I guess,,,:-).  I should drink them in a well-mannered way.

Trick or Tea

As you may know, October 31st is Halloween. Even in Japan, its popularity has been getting bigger and bigger. The economic benefits from Halloween are enormous now.

As you may not know, October 31st is the day of Japanese tea. Until recent, I didn’t know that…..Oops!!

 

According to my humble research, October 31st (the New calendar) is considered the day when Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest returned to Japan from Sung (the current China) in 1911. It is believed that he brought back some tea seeds and the cultivation method. That’s why the day is set as Japanese tea day.

 

Why don’t the shop take advantage of well-known event??

 

They do…..under the slogan “Trick or Tea!” The day of Japanese tea has nothing to do with Halloween, but I like “treat”, and “tea” too.

by Hitohi

Tea and Coffee -TEAVANA in Japan-

Starbucks Coffee Japan opened its tea brand shop “TEAVANA” on October 3.

Around the world, tea sales reached 125 billion dollars, which is bigger than coffee as of 2015. So the company hopes for a big success in Japan.

Their signature drink for its opening is "yuzu citrus & tea". The tea has a lot of pulp of yuzu citrus, pink grapefruit and white grapes.The company says that it's not only tasty, but pleases the eye, and the customers will enjoy the tea using the five senses.

photo by TEAVANA

Thinking about the trend around the world, it seems to be a bright prospects for TEAVANA in Japan，but it won't be easy. According to ITO EN Co.Ltd, the 2015 beverage sales in Japan is as follows;

   *Coffee: 942 billion yen

   *Black tea: 458 billion yen

   *Green tea: 415 billion yen

Against the world trend, Japan is a coffee giant!

Starbucks have growing rapidly for last 20 years and now ubiquitous in Japan. Comparing tea and coffee may be like "apples and oranges". But.... can its new brand, TEAVANA, let some fresh air into the coffee country??  We’ll see.....I want to see it:-)

*Its Website: http://www.starbucks.co.jp/cafe/teavana/

Past, Present and Future of KYUSE teapot

Have you heard about Kyusu, a Japanese tea pot? Have you make a tea with Kyusu? It used to be a "must" for our daily lives, but not anymore.....

I've found very interesting YouTube site about the past, present and future about Kyusu. Check it out!


< JAPANESE TEA REVIVAL PROJECT>   English subtitle is available: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXDD-DEwfo&feature=youtu.be

Japanese Tea Rivival Project

Selling Like "Wakocha" in Osaka

A shop of Wakocha, or Japanese black tea, Creha, in Saga prefecture (in Kyushu area) set up its booth at the one-week exhibition at the most popular department store in Osaka.

a peaceful exhibition hall  before their opening time

As far as I know, Osaka is rather "coffee area", not "tea". Osakan are known as very friendly, sometimes “too friendly” (I can say “aggressive”, ha, ha), and call a spade a spade...... Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complain about them because I am also one of Osakan! I was worried that how much they would enjoy Wakocha and  they would buy. But…..no need for such concern at all. The Japanese black tea captivated so many people here, much much more than I expected.

The customers were surprised to know that there are so many black tea produced in Japan. They were impressed to learn that every Wakocha has a different taste depending on its cultivar, tea farmer etc.

selection of wakocha

Although every black tea has its own flavor respectively, compared to conventional tea such as Keemun and Uva etc, Wakocha in general has a rather sensitive aroma and flavor. Thanks to its sensitiveness, the tea can harmonize with any foods and sweets, not clash with. It is versatile!

Wakocha agrees even to those who don’t like its bitterness. Wakocha goes well with Japanese sweets which has very sensitive flavor, and even with a slightly westernized-Japanese food.Of course, some prefer the tea with the stronger character. I like those kind of tea too. But since I’ve became a big supporter of this versatile tea, I’ve enjoyed selecting tea depending on my mood and what I eat with.

The customer enjoyed the marriage wakocha and sweets
@ temporary tearoom

photo by Creha

Japanese tea consumption has been decreasing. Hope more people will enjoy Japanese black tea, and it can be a good chance for them to have an interest in Japanese tea including green.

*Creha Website: http://creha.net/
                                      (Only in Japanese.)

More Umami, Less Bitterness

According to the survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the production of “covered tea” has increased. It refers to the tea which is covered for a certain time before the leaves are plucked so that the tea can remain theanin, the source of Umami, instead of creating more catechin, the source of bitterness. 

The covered tea include “*tencha”, “gyokuro” and “kabusecha”. Since the covered tea is thought to be a value-added tea, many tea-producing areas have been producing more.

<Production of Covered tea：year-on-year figure>

Shizuoka: increase by 17.2%

Kagoshima: increase by 19.1%

Kyoto: increase by 11.8%

This trend toward more Umami and less bitterness may continue….

*Tencha is the tea before being ground by a stone mill into powder. This powdered tea is called “matcha”.

Mt Fuji Tea Bag!?

The number of the tourists to Japan has been skyrocketing over a couple of years. It seems “exponential increase”.

One of the popular souvenirs is TEA! Good quality tea such as Matcha, Gyokuro and Sencha are really popular at tea-producing areas like Kyoto and Shizuoka. Also, the design-oriented tea are seen here and there.

If you want some, “Japan Shadow Tea bag”? Look at the string. While you are making tea, you will enjoy the shadow of Ninja or Kabuki actor. Sumo wrestler, and Samurai too.

Photo by SORARINE INC

What about “Mt.Fuji tea bag”? You will feel “the JAPAN” while making tea, won’t you?

Photo by SORARINE INC

I wouldn’t buy those for myself, but maybe it can be a funny item for souvenir :-)