Yamatomidori (やまとみどり、大和緑）is a tea cultivar as old as Yabukita. Yamato was originally a region in Nara, and then it became the ancient name of Japan. Now, it’s pretty much...
4 Reasons why your Matcha Doesn’t Foam
I’ve received questions by readers regarding the foam of matcha. First of all I must warn that some schools of the Japanese tea ceremony prefer less foam or not...
The Fuushun Tea Cultivar
The tea cultivar Fuushun (ふうしゅん,富春) means “rich spring”. This cultivar is more resistant to cold weather than Yabukita and has a greater yield, even if using less fertilizer. Normally,...
Goishicha
Goishicha (碁石茶, go stone tea) is a rare Japanese dark (post-fermented) tea made in Ōtoyo Town, Kochi prefecture. It’s classified as a type of bancha, although it’s not a...
Pests of the Tea Plant in Japan
Pests are a a major problem for farmers, and tea farmers are no exception. Here’s a list of some of the most common pests that attack the tea plant...
The Yumewakaba Tea Cultivar
The Yumewakaba (ゆめわかば, dream young leaf) is a Japanese tea cultivar developed by the Saitama Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center. Its yield at harvest and picking time are...
Infusing Green Tea in Alcohol
Making your own tea-infused liquor is very easy. You don’t need to add heat. Why infuse tea in an alcoholic beverage? Well, just in case that you want to...
The Kanayamidori Tea Cultivar
Kanayamidori (かなやみどり) is a cultivar known for making a sencha with body and a milky aroma. The use of this cultivar has been encouraged by tea research centers, so...
The Soufuu Tea Cultivar
Soufuu (蒼風, そうふう) is a Japanese tea cultivar with a pleasant floral aroma. It loosely translates as “green wind”. It is intended for both sencha and oolong production, but...
How to Host a Tea Tasting Party at Home
As with many things in life, it’s best to taste a tea with the company of friends. Having a tea tasting party at home is fun for both experienced...
Cold Brewing Green Tea
Did you know that it isn’t necessary to use hot water to brew your tea? Mizudashi (水出し) meaning “cold brewing” in Japanese is an easy way to brew your...
Japanese Green Tea Finishing and Blending
I recently saw a video from Japanese tea lover Shizuka Maitani about the final processing and blending of Japanese green tea. It is so interesting that it deserves a...