Historical High - Wazuka Tea -

The Kyoto tea auction was held on April 30, 2012.An average price per kg is 10,420 yen.

Among those, the hand-made tea produced in Wazuka town hit a record high. Can you guess how much is it per kilogram? That’s 140,000yen per kg!!  (118,888 yen in 2011)

Wazuka tea always enjoys the highest price in Japan. Once again, the tea maintains its position.

Tea Farms in Wazuka town, KYOTO  -photo by tomo-

Like Father, Like Son

If you are a big fan of black tea, you can imagine the taste to some extent. What's Assam like? What about Keemun?

Concerning Wakocha (Japanese black tea), the story is not the same. The tea variety used for Wakocha are different from farmer to farmer, creating too variety aromas and flavors to explain.

But, if I have to describe the differences between conventional teas and Wakocha, I would say this: Generally, each well-known black tea (such as Assam, Uva and Keemun etc) has its strong character. Each has its own distinguish aroma, and sound body. On the other hand, Wakocha has rather modest character; subtle aroma and flavor, and lighter body than the other black tea. Due to its mildness, the tea relatively goes well with wider variety foods.

Of course, the character is mainly created by Japanese climate, soil and other factors. But to me, the trait of Wakocha seems to be similar to that of Japanese. We are considered to be modest, and place an importance on harmony with others rather than our own personalities.

“Like 'farmer', like 'tea'."    Don't you think?




             Wakocha             -Photo by tomo-

 

Tea Nouveau - Shincha -

If you like Japanese green tea, you may know Sencha, which is the most popular Japanese green tea. What about Shincha? Sounds confusing, doesn't it? 

Actually, they are the same kind tea. Shincha is the "spring Sencha” made by first flush. "Sen" for Sencha means ‘to decoct’ or ‘to extract essence’, and "cha" means tea. “Shin” for Shincha means ‘new’ or ‘fresh’.

Japanese love fresh and seasonal stuff. Sushi is mainly made of fresh fish. The traditional dishes place an importance on season. So, we would love to give the special name to the new tea.

Made from fresh and young buds, Shincha has more fresh and greenish aroma. Now, “tea nouveau” is everywhere here in Japan!

*See about the tea special day  "Hachijyu-Hachiya".

http://japaneseteastory.blogspot.jp/2012/04/long-awaited-hachijyu-hachiya.html

Tea-Picking Song -Chatsumi-

Another tea-picking season has come!

There is a traditional song known as “Chatsumi (Tea-picking)”. It says that the tea-pickers with special costumes are picking new tea leaves at the beautiful tea farms. We often sing this song using hand-gestures, too. These are from You Tube. Enjoy different version!

* Version1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIV2POe2K1k

* Hand-gestured version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BLf92LNNtA

traditional cosutume for tea-pickers

Green or Black??

Recently, a controversial issue has brought up.

"Does onigiri (rice ball) go well with black tea? "



Onigiri

Ongiri is a simple and handy Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or oval shapes and often wrapped in nori (sea vegetables). Traditionally, an onigiri is filled with salty ingredient such as ume (pickled plum), salted salmon, katsuobushi (soy-sauced flavored dried bonito flakes). Japanese  have never doubted that Japanese green tea is a perfect drink with onigiri.

However, a Japanese beverage company, which has recently put their new bottled “black tea” on the market, cast a question about it.

"Don’t you think onigiri is also good with black tea?"

Actually, its taste has changed. Being really popular, the handy food with much wider variety of fillings and flavors are seen on the market. Even cheesy or meaty stuff, which were not conventional, are used as fillings. So, it makes sense the drink to go with doesn’t have to be “conventional”.

To begin with, tea is tea whatever “color” is. With its “advent” of onigiri’s novel flavor, why don’t we try new marriage?



Kirin Beverage Company



Bottled Wakocha

Japanese black tea known as Wakocha is still new to a lot of Japanese. Unlike conventional Japanese tea like Sencha, Hojicha etc, Wakocha tea leaves are not everywhere. I mean we can only buy Wakocha at limited shops.

Recently, some bottled Wakocha began to put in the market. Since Japan is a superpower of PET bottled drink, tons of bottled drinks are sold every day. So, people may have more chance to know that Japan produces black tea thanks to its bottled drink.

I prefer tea infused by a teapot to bottled one, but it would be good if bottled drink could be a gateway to Wakocha.

Hoga Sengen - Announcement Tea is Ready! -

Every spring, “Sakura ‘kaika sengen (lit: opening flower announcement)’” is issued. People start to think where and when they should go to see Sakura.

Next, tea people expect to hear “tea ‘hoga sengen (budding announcement)’”. In Kyoto, the announcement was issued on the 9th of April, 2012.

Usually, about one month after the announcement, tea is ready to be picked. This year, since it is relatively colder in March, tea picking season might be later than usual. But for sure, tea front line is now moving north throughout Japan while chasing Sakura front line.