Have you heard of Obukucha – the special tea that people in Japan drink around the new year? The name Obukucha (大福茶), translated from Japanese means good fortune tea. It is usually drunk on the first days of the new year to bring good luck and good health for the coming year. The tradition was […]
At the end of the year it is time to look into the future. And Japan is actually looking 5 years ahead. The government set on a plan to significantly increase export of agricultural produce by 2025. The export of Japanese tea is expected to more than double from ¥14.6 billion in 2019 to ¥31.2 […]
November brings a beautiful change of colours in Japan, however, the situation in the tea world continues to be a difficult one. Many tea producers and sellers have experienced a drop in sales and profits this year. To assist the tea farmers, some tea regions, like Yokkaichi in Mie, are providing financial support. Perhaps the […]
Introduction Just like China with its pu-erh, Japan has its post-fermented tea too. However, Japanese post-fermented teas are produced only in small quantities and are very geographically specific! Most of these teas are produced in small rural villages, where this very particular tradition is being kept alive by a few people, usually of the older […]
October is almost the end of the autumn tea harvesting season. The last few tea leaves will be harvested in the next few days and then will come a long period of rest. With the decreasing amount of the field work, there is more time for promotion. Many tea producing prefectures in Japan have been […]
Do you know Wakōcha? Speaking about Japanese tea we cannot help but recall in our mind the refreshing flavor of Sencha as well as the toasty aroma of Hōjicha, not to mention the creamy texture of matcha, all different types of green tea. In recent years, due to their fascinating cultural background as well as […]
In September summer heats start to subside and the tea harvesting begins again. While we are waiting for the news about the autumn harvest we already have the results of the 74th National Japanese Tea Competition that was held at the end of August. The best gyokuro this year comes from Yame, Fukuoka, while tea […]
April to July is the most intensive time for Japanese tea. In August, when the summer heats hit, tea farm work simmers down. It gives a chance to look back on the two main seasons and evaluate the tea of this year. With that in mind the national Japanese tea competition was held in Kagoshima […]