Japan - Mie Sencha
This month we’re visiting Japan. With a long-standing traditional tea culture and some of the finest teas in the world, including matcha and sencha. The eclectic and dynamic cities of Japan are counteracted by the beautiful, mountainous countryside. The tea gardens of Japan are some of the most tranquil and serene, with many tourists coming to experience the traditional Japanese tea culture.
Due to intense volcanic, tectonic and seismic activity, the regions of Japan generally have rugged green landscapes. Each one adapting to vastly different climates, with the southern region of Kyushu being some of the wettest and the northern region of Hokkaido being some of the snowiest. These vast climates have contributed to unique biodiversity, with a third of plants and animals being native only to Japan. These climates have allowed Japan to cultivate different types of tea. Tea was initially introduced to Japan in the 8th century by Buddhist monks who had travelled to China. It was reserved for priests and the upper class until the Muromachi period in the 14th century when it became more popular with the social classes. Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) is regarded as the father of the modern way of tea, with many tea ceremony schools following his teachings. One of the most important ideas behind the ceremony is the concept of wabi and sabi. Wabi symbolises human spirituality, whereas sabi symbolises the materiality of life. Japan is the 8th largest tea producing country, with most tea produced in the southwest regions. Tea is grown in almost all regions apart from Hokkaido, but most are grown for local retail and not exported globally.
Why we love Mie Sencha
This green tea is full of antioxidants, the goji berries and pomegranate arils counteract any bitterness of the tea creating a subtly sweet and fruity undertone. A perfect pick me up that you can drink any time of day, but best drank in the mornings.
Location: Kinki, Mie Prefecture
Country: Japan
Capital City: Tokyo
Coordinates: 33.8144° N, 136.0487° E
Elevation: 2,648 m
Soil type: Volcanic
Manufacturer: Small Holdings
Season: Spring
Av temp: 23 °C
Fun facts:
> Slurping noodles is not considered rude.
> People love eating KFC on Christmas day
> Japan has more than 1,500 earthquakes a year.
> Japan has the world’s deepest underwater postbox.
> There is one vending machine for every 24 people.
> Tokyo is the largest city in the world.
Ingredients: Green Tea, Goji Berries, Lemongrass, Flavouring, Pomegranate Arils, Cornflower Blossoms. Store in a cool, dry place.
GOJI GREEN IS AVAILABLE IN OUR TEASHOP >>
