Stand up! Spring!! ....??

In 2015, February 4^th is “Risshuun”, literally means “stand up spring”. The day is considered  “the first day of spring” according to the lunar calendar. It’ too chilly to feel “spring” yet, but maybe spring will soon stand up to encompass us with warmth. 

With the approaching of spring, it is the time for tea-lovers to count 88. The 88th day counting from risshun is a special ‘tea day’ known as hachiju-hachiya (literally, “eighty-eight night”). It is believed that drinking green tea made from tea leaves picked on hachiju-hachiya will bring you good health for the year. Tea festivals are annually held at tea-producing areas including Kyoto and Shizuoka on the day. And also it is the time that  “shincha”, 2015 new tea, will come in!

Mr Iwata's tea farm @Tsukigase in Nara

Everyday Life

Some of you may have heard the name of the city "KOBE" if you like KOBE beef. 

Just 20 years ago today, January 17, 1995, the big earthquake hit that area, leaving nearly 6500 people dead. I was there back then. Lots of houses and shops, high buildings were leveled to the ground, some roads were cracked and the highway was collapsed. Needless to say, all lifelines were stopped. People in the ground zero couldn't get any information and were not sure exactly what happened and what was happening. "Everyday life" was not there.

Now I don't live in Kobe, but went to walk around the place where I used to live in Kobe. I remembered a lot, thought a lot and felt a lot. And I thank people who helped and supported me, and thank for everyday life that I live now. I'm writing this while having a cup of tea. I feel more than happy that I'm here.....

Morning tea on the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
Teacup is given by a person who helped me back then. 

A Cozy Get-Together

I hosted an event "English Tea Time"  in Osaka. 14 people, including the one who used to live in England, just visited London and like black tea etc, got together.  It was not like a tea seminar which instructs how to make good tea. It was more like a cozy get-together for tea. 


Japanese tend to think making black tea is not easy. Also many believe all the people in the UK make tea using tea leaves every day and enjoy the teatime with scones and sandwiches every day. That's not true, isn't it? They enjoy more relaxing and cozy style, which I love. So I introduced the British everyday tea culture that I've experienced over a cup of tea from London. I also shared Japanese black tea known as “wakocha”, which is still rare and special even for Japanese. 

They seemed to enjoy the time. I would be happy if they will enjoy tea and their tea time more often at home.

 

Give Life Again to the Tradition

Happy New Year!  How did you welcome 2015?

My first cup of black tea this year was poured by Testubin, literally means iron kettle.

This is kettle, so tetsubin is originally used to boil water. That is, we boil water in the kettle and make tea in a separate teapot. 

But the modern colored-testsubin is not the same. This is a teapot. 

Unfortunately, the original style of kettle almost went out for a while maybe because of the price and the extra-care in maintenance, but the new role as a colored-teapot, started in Europe, has given life again to it.

The colored-tetsubin is processed as a teapot. Therefore, you shouldn't put it on the stove like kettle. If you want to use it as a kettle, why don't you get the original style one!

In any case, we can enjoy Tea with Tetsubin:-)

Enjoy 2015 and your tea.  I will:-) 

Colored Tetsubin -T-

Ring Out 2014 and Ring In 2015

The time did fly by. I still can't believe 2015 is just "there". Have I done something? Maybe, maybe not....

The first thing in the every morning, I boil a kettle and make tea. During the daytime, I drink tea. After supper, I have tea..... Always tea is with me. Tea for myself makes me relax, and tea to share makes me happy.

Again, I have to keep in mind that  how lucky I am to be able to have tea. I'm very grateful to this year and hope 2015 will be a peaceful and happy year. 

I know we still have three more days to the end of the year, but let me thank you all for reading my blog this year. Thank you for sharing your ideas this year. And thank you for sharing tea with me.

Where are you going to greet 2015?  Wherever you are, I wish all of you a Happy New Year.

-Luv T-

"Queen" of Teatime

You may know that Victoria sandwich cake is one of the traditional British tea cakes. It was named after Queen Victoria who was believed to enjoy it for teatime. 

Unfortunately, not many tearooms in my neighborhood serves and I missed it. But a tearoom I often go adds the cake as a dessert for special Christmas menu. Yes! Of course, I went and tried it. It was Lovely!! Yummy!. 

A lot of Flour:-)  -T-

Actually, Japanese and English flours seem to be different. I am not the specialist for flour, so I can't say what's different, but it Is different. The cake made from Japanese one usually creates more smooth, fluffy and silky texture. The Victoria sandwich cake I had there had more rough, which reminded me of British style. As I guessed, that was not from Japanese flour.  

I am not saying Japanese one is not good. I like it. But this is the British cake. I am glad to feel more texture in my mouth. And that texture made me feel like " I need more tea!" and I did. Christmas tea from Taylor's of Hallogate  I had with gave me more Christmassy feelings. 

The tearoom have another Christmas special, which is more meal-ish. I should go again maybe for supper.

Christmas Tea -T-

As You Like it

The way of enjoying Japanese tea doesn't have to stick to the conventional way. More shops have served the tea in more casual way recently. 

I learned that another new Japanese tea stand “Tea Channel” just opened in Kyoto. To me, their way sounds like very Starbucks-ish. First, the customers choose the size of cup and what kind of tea you would try. Second, they can choose the taste. Would you prefer bitter, mild or super mild etc?? They prepare the tea according to your taste. Then, you can also order “the topping” such as whipped cream, nuts, honey, the leaves etc. “Topping” sounds very “novel” to me for Japanese tea. I heard that they also serve some interesting “tea leaves and apples smoothie”, which I have never had.

Kyoto is the heart of traditional tea culture. It is good to see enjoying the old drink in the new style at such a time-honored place. Enjoy as you like it.

frm Tea Channel