Western and Chinese teapots usually have an upper or back handle. Have you wondered why the traditional Japanese teapot has a side handle? To answer this question, let’s take...
Podcast 053: The Kamikatsu Awa Bancha Association
I was recently contacted by Kanji Nakata from the Kamikatsu Awa Bancha Association. His English is quite good, so we decided to record this podcast episode. We talk about...
Nio Teas Kasugaen Asatsuyu Sencha
Asatsuyu is one of my favorite tea cultivars. I’m a big fan of green teas with a bold umami taste. So it’s a pleasure to review this fukamushi sencha...
The Benihikari Tea Cultivar
Benihikari, which literally means “red light”, is a Japanese tea cultivar for black tea. Note that black tea is called “red tea” (koucha) in Japan. This cultivar is a...
Why a Tea Won’t Taste the Same for Everyone
This is one of the shortcomings of tea reviews. Not only do I have different preferences regarding tea, but there are many factors that can make the same tea...
Tezumi Wazuka Zairai White Tea
I’ve never tasted a Japanese white tea before. It’s very difficult to find this type of tea made in Japan, as well as yellow tea. Note that I have...
Uji Matcha Curry Review
A friend gave me this Japanese souvenir. It’s a curry made with matcha! This product is made by Itohkyuemon, a company that sells tea and sweets made with tea....
Japan Spirit and Form: Japanese Tea Bowls (Documentary)
I saw an old NHK documentary, it is the sixth in a series about Japanese art and culture. This one focuses on the tea bowl. It’s not just about...
Sugimoto Tea Sencha Koushun
Many years ago I tried the Koushun cultivar for the first time at Chachanoma. It was a delightful experience. Unfortunately, time passes and now I can barely remember what...
Rakugan
Rakugan (落雁) is a Japanese dried confectionery that is commonly used in the tea ceremony. This wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet) is made with flour (often from rice) and sugar...
Matcha Pizza
I’ve seen matcha used as an ingredient for many dishes, but it has never occurred to me that a matcha pizza exists. First I saw one from Japan through...
Nio Teas Gokou Matcha Koiai
This is the first product that I review from Nio Teas, an online store that sells Japanese tea. Although the Gokou cultivar is commonly found in the Uji region,...