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StephanieRiann 講師のコラム

My Japanese Tea Experiences (2018 and 2020)

2020年3月16日

Hello Everyone ! 

Today, I wanted to share with you my Japanese tea experiences.

In 2018, I enjoyed my first Japanese tea expereince, by going to a workshop offered at the Tsukimasa Shimokitazawa tea shop in Setagaya, Tokyo. I got to learn about different Japanese Teas and try making three types as well I got to try Sakura tea which was interesting. 

My most recent Japanese tea experience that I went to was last week in March 2020.  Now, originally I was supposed to go on this experience with my best friend from Canada and my ex-coworker, but my friend from Canada cancelled due to Corona virus, but myself and my ex-coworker Kat still attended. 

This time we attended the workshop at the Sayamaen Japanese Tea shop in Tachikawa, Tokyo.  This tea shop has been running for 72 years and is now being run by the 3rd generation of family. 

We learned many things about tea in Japan in this workshop:

1. What is Nihon cha?
2. We tasted 4 different Japanese teas from differnet production areas
( Sencha, Sayama, Shizuoka and a blend --shizuoka/kouchi/miyazaki)
3. We practised brewing tea with Kyusu  and we also got to make our own original blend of Genmaicha.
4. Enjoy more Japanese tea - Kyobancha  and Macha with sweets
5. How to store tea properly at home.

This was a very informative experience and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about Japanese culture.  

With the tea tasting part 2 of the experience we were asked try 3 different teas from different areas of Japan and describe how we felt they tasted. 

1. Sayama-cha -- Produced in Saitama, Iruma-city
This is a deep steamed type of tea  with a strong firing finish. I really enjoyed this tea as it also has a feeling and taste of sweet, mild and flowers.

2. Shizuoka-Cha --produced in Shizuoka, Kakegawa city.
Also a deep steamed tea and organically cultivated. The first time you make the tea it smells of summer time with flavour of grass and the ocean like the coastline and it has a bitter taste.  When you make your second serving of tea from the same leaves it is more mild of ocean  but the grass flavour is still present. 

3. Gougumi-Sencha-- produced in Shizuoka,  Miyazaki and Kouchi a blended tea. This is a regular steamed tea. It tastes like the deep ocean  and the second serving from the same leaves becomes more bitter. 

We ate rice crackers with this drink to enhanse the falvours. 



We then brewed and made our own original blend of Genmaicha --which I really love the taste of and the smell of it as it reminds me of popcorn.
 


Afterwards, we tried Kyobancha (smokey roasted tea) --produced in Kyoto, it smells like dry moss and seaweed. It has a smoky aroma  with a subtle sweetness . I really enjoyed this tea, I bought some of this tea after the session ( along with a proper tea pot) as it has lower caffeine levels and is good to drink before sleep or when you want to relax.

We then enjoyed making and drinking macha tea with chocolates ! I always love having some Macha tea, this time was in the casual style. 

I love making tea ! and I really love learning how to make each tea in the best way! 

Do you love tea? Do you enjoy making tea? 

Leave me a comment or lets have a chat in a relaxed conversation lesson! 

I wish I could work in a tea shop, I really enjoyed this experience. 

I hope to see you or meet you soon! 

Cheers, 

StephanieRiann

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