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Before brewing... First of all, it is important to purchase tea leaves kept in good condition.Unlike dry oxidized teas such as black or oolong, Japanese tea leaves easily deteriorate. To keep the tea leaves in good condition, expertise and the right type of storage facilities are required. It seems that it is difficult for many importers and retailers outside of Japan to keep green tea in good condition. Second, it is very important that tea leaves are kept in good condition to brew flavorful green tea by a procedure suitable for each kind of tea. Keep the tea leaves away...

Konacha is an Especially Good Value for RokuchaKonacha is different from powdered tea, and it’s made by gathering together granules of tea just large enough not to dissolve in hot water.It requires care, because it’s drunk differently from Funmatsucha (powdered tea). While Konacha also translates literally to English as powdered tea, it’s made of especially large pieces, and is a different type of tea from Matcha and others.That’s why this time I’ll be answering questions like “What type of tea is Konacha?,” and “How is it different from Funmatsucha and Matcha?” as I introduce you to Konacha!Konacha is tea made...

Among the tea leaves produced the leaves which come in first (the new sprouts), and the green tea brewed from these leaves are known as Shincha. Tea leaves are harvested several times throughout the year, but Shincha is the highest quality, and many people wait for it excitedly around this time every year. These tea leaves have all of the nutrition the plant has accumulated over the winter, and they’re rich in nutrition that helps to keep the body healthy, which is why it has long been said that “drinking Shincha will keep you healthy through the whole year.”The Season...

How do you picture an area famous for its tea production? Today, tea production is in full swing across Japan, but here I’ll be introducing Uji, Kyoto, where production of tea in Japan first began, and other areas famous for producing tea. We’ll take a look at the unique characteristics, and the differences between tea from these regions.The Brithplace of Rokucha in Japan, Uji TawaraIt’s said that tea first originated in inland China (around the Yunnan province), before spreading around the world. Tea came to Japan from China, and by the Heian era, tea was already being processed in a...