Do you know how to make Matcha?

Did you know how to make Matcha?  This video is made by simpleshow Japan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BRp9XpdL5s

Very British in Osaka - Kitahama Retro -

A tea room, "Kitahama Retoro" , has been very popular since it opened in 1997. You have to be ready to wait for an hour, or longer.

The building is designated as a national tangible cultural property, which is one of the reasons of its popularity, but more than that. The tea room has a full of British atmosphere.

The tea room is along the river. When you see it across the river, the tiny tea room is sandwiched between the taller building.

Do you see a teapot and the sign "TEA" on the building?

The tearoom, which is sandwiched between the buildings reminds me of Twining in London. "Kitahama Retoro" is really British in terms of not only food and interior decorations but how it is built.

Twining in London.

Hoga Sengen 2019

The Kyoto tea authority announced “hoga sengen” (budding announcement) on April 5th 2019.

 

It’s 2 days later than last year. Since it was warmer this February, it could have budded earlier than usual. But the temperature was back to normal this March and it became colder at the beginning of this month. After going through "up-and-down" temperature, the announcement turned out to be a bit later than last year.

 

The announcement is annually issued when about 70% of new buds of “Yabukita” cultivar (the most common cultivar to produce green tea) cultivated at a research institute are grown about twice as big as the size of leaves which are wrapped the buds. Usually, about one month after hoga sengen, tea is ready to be plucked.

 

In Japan, the new era is going to start on May 1 after the current Emperor abdicate on April 30. Tea season this year is coming together with the opening of the new era "Reiwa", which means "beautiful harmony". It'll be very special for sure!

Capsule Hotel like a Tea House

Have you heard about “capsule hotel (known as pod hotel) ” in Japan? Maybe you have stayed the place. According to Wikipedia, it is a type of hotel developed in Japan that features a large number of small bed-sized rooms known as capsules. Anyway….very tiny…

I just heard that a new type of capsule hotel named Zen Tokyo opened in Tokyo. It is inspired by a small tea house for Japanese traditional tea ceremony.

its website

If you are a tea person, this hotel can be an option for your accommodations. But  remember, this is tiny.....:-)

* Zen Tokyo  https://www.hotelzen.jp/

Natural Farmed Tea

The tea is from Aso city where Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, is located. 

Thanks to the farmer's great great care and the soil known as Andosols, formed in volcanit tephra, the tea was gentle but powerful even without any fertilizer or pesticide. Even fourth and fifth infusions, the tea had still subtle sweetness and descent body with a nice aftertaste. I felt like it nicely steeped into my whole body.

It was very refined, but at the same time I had a feeling that I'd known the taste.....

Many skilled tea producers in Japan, but unfortunately, I heard many people are struggling to continue their tea business because of various reasons like financial problem, a lack of successors etc. It will be a big loss for Japanese tea future if this tea wouldn't be continued to be produced....

*kamairi-ryokucha (pan-fired green tea)

*place: Aso, Kumamoto

*Zairai varietal (seed propagation)

*soil: Andosol

*farming method; Natural farming (No fertilizer, no pesticide)

tea & bar at The Thousand Kyoto

I enjoyed Afternoon tea at the newly opened hotel in Kyoto. 

Their specialty is wide variety of Japanese tea, especially Wakocha (Japanese black tea). They serve five different kinds of Wakocha, and four different flavored Wakocha, which is very unusual and special to serve that wide selection of the tea at such a luxurious tea room like here.

In addition the Hotel's original four kinds flavored tea and a Shizuoka smoky Wakocha, 

they have these.

1. The hotel original blend (from Wazuka in Kyoto)

2. Yabukita cultivar tea (from Shizuoka, Tokai region)

3, Benihikari cultivar tea (from Nara, Kansai region)

4. Blend tea (from Kochi, Shikoku region)

5 Benifuki cultivar tea (from Kagoshima, Kyusu region)

I went there for Afternoon tea with the grower of Kagoshima Benifuki tea. Both of us are big tea drinkers, and we had a lot of tea.... Actually, 6 different kind of the tea together. The stuff members brew each tea very carefully, and we could see how they treated the teas. 

All the tea are shining, and very aromatic!

Of course, the food was very tasty and Kyoto-ish, especially savory ones.

There are also various kinds of green tea including Gyokuro, several Sencha, Hojicha  and Matcha, of course. Why don't you drop at "tea&bar" at the hotel, The Thousand Kyoto, to try some teas!

THE THOUSAND KYOTO

https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/the-thousand-kyoto/en/

"Full-course" Sweets with Japanese Tea

At the sweets shop "LE MUSEE DE H" run by Mr Tsujiguchi, one of the most famous patissier in Japan in Kanazawa city in Ishikawa.

<First course>
Plum jerry with greening apple sauce together with Yuzu citrus flavor oolong tea

<Second Course>
Gyokuro from Uji-Tawara in Kyoto is served.  

The first and the second infusion are served with the special tea cup.

While enjoying the sweets and tea, Yubukita cultivar tea is being roasted on a tea incense burner known as "cha-koro"

The third infusion is served with a bigger cup.

Used Gyokuro leaves with a bit of soy sauce, which is very tasty. 

<Third course>

Hojicha (roasted tea) fresh from "cha-koro"is served. The roasted aroma is good with fondant au chocolate. If you like, why don't you put yuzu citrus sauce in the white cup on the sweets?  You will love the combination of rich dark chocolate and refreshing yozu tastes! 

* LE MUSEE DE H in Kanazawa  (Japanese only)
https://le-musee-de-h.jp/shops/kanazawa.html