Named the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto is steeped in culture. That, of course, includes tea. Kyoto has a long history of tea production and appreciation. It is here that some of the first tea seeds were planted and here that the Sencha production method was invented. Kyoto is also the centre for the Japanese […]
You probably have been enjoying Japanese tea for a while. And now you have a chance to visit Japan. Tokyo is on the list for almost every visitor to Japan. But where to go for tea? Tea has always been a part of everyday live in Japan. In the past it was more common to […]
In the old days of Kyoto, each trade had a dedicated street, and Gojo street has been known as the pottery street of Kyoto. The famous Kyoto pottery styles Kyo-yaki and Kyomizu-yaki were made in this area and were sold numerous pottery shops on Gojo street. Because of the change of the environmental laws in […]
Asahiyaki is a pottery style form Uji, Kyoto. The story has it that it started about 400 years ago and to has developed in close connection to tea ceremony schools, many of which are housed in Kyoto to the present day. Today Asahiyaki kiln is ran by two Matsubayashi brothers, who are 17th generation in […]
Many are curious about Matcha, but a few really know how to make it and feel comfortable making it at home.So once you have the tea powder how do you actually make it. The anxiety stems from the belief that that Matcha requires special tools or skills. That is not entirely true as there are […]
Shigaraki is a small quiet town in Shiga prefecture south of lake Biwa. Some tea is grown around there, but it is known more for its pottery – Shigarakiyaki. Shigarakiyaki is said to have stared around 12th century, and is listed among the six oldest kilns in Japan. In 1976 Shigarakiyaki was even awarded a […]
In the middle of November, the annual National Japanese Tea Hand-Rolling Competition took place in Yame, Fukuoka. It was 22nd time the competition was held and 31 team from different tea regions competed in it. Before the national competition each tea producing region usually hold a regional competition to select 1-3 teams to represent the region […]
In the past few decades, Urasenke tea ceremony school has been opening more to the outside world. They now have several branches abroad as well as a few domestic programs for foreign tea ceremony students. One example is a year-long Midorikai program, another is a weekend program at International Chado Institute. For foreigners residing in […]
In Japan green tea is the most popular, but some areas also make some unique regional teas. One such tea is Awabancha (阿波番茶) – a fermented tea from Tokushima prefecture. Little is known about its origins, but currently there are about 300 tea farmers who produce it (for commercial production there are just a few, though). […]
Puerh – a fermented Chinese tea, has grown really popular in recent years. It may be a surprise that Japan has some fermented teas too. One such tea is Goishicha – a fermented tea from Otoyo town, Kochi prefecture. Story says that Goishicha (碁石茶) may have been brought to Kochi from Yunan in China around […]