Shizuoka, Japan
This month we are visiting the Shizuoka tea region to introduce you to an amazing green sencha tea, blended with roasted rice. A luxurious delicacy, with a very distinctive taste, the tea is known locally as Genmaicha.
Japanese Genmaicha is consumed in the Western world as a delicacy with an interesting and complex flavour profile that is akin to popcorn. However, in ancient Japan Genmaicha was actually a peasant’s tea. The Japanese word ‘Genmaicha’ literally translating as ‘brown rice and tea’, while the roasted rice imparts a very beautiful and distinctive flavour to the brewed tea. The original purpose of adding rice was not a culinary innovation but simply an attempt to make the green tea last longer. This is why, in Japan, Genmaicha is known as ‘The People’s Tea’
The tea offers an array of antioxidants such as caronteids and ascorbic acid. If drinking on a regular basis it can help boost your immune system and also helps drain the toxins from your body. It actually has more antioxidants than some vegetables!
The tea is grown in the Shizuoka region which overlooks Mount Fiji. Shizuoka means tranquil (shizu) hills (oka) in Japanese and is blessed with unique terrain, vp;camoc soils, a mild four-season climate, plenty of sunshine, just the right amount of rainfall, and dense coastal fog. These are all the ingredients necessary to grow superlative tea leaves.
Why we love Shizuoka
The fertile volcanic soils produce a fresh green tea which is why the cup appears yellow-green in colour. Take time to appreciate the roasted grains, and how it tastes like popcorn. We label this as our “popcorn tea” because of a few grains of the rice pop during the roasting process.
Location: Shizuoka
Country: Japan
Capital City: Tokyo
Coordinates: 34°58′32″N 138°22′58″E
Elevation: 30 m above sea level
Soil type: Volcanic soils
Manufacture: Smallholder tea estates
Season: July-August
Av temp: 20 °C
Facts:
> Suruga Bay is its main coastal feature.
> Every 100 to 150 years an earthquake has hit Shizuoka.
> Japan is made up of 6,852 islands.
> The highest point in Japan is Mount Fuji at 3,776m (12,388ft).
> Japan is ranked as second in the world for life expectancy.
SHIZUOKA (POPCORN) IS AVAILABLE IN OUR TEASHOP >>
