Tenjocha Fugaku (天上茶 富嶽) can be translated as “heavens tea from Mount Fuji”. I received this sample thanks to webexpoo.com, a site where you can source Japanese products. It’s...
Kūkai
Kūkai (空海) is a famous historical figure in Japan. He founded the Shingon School of Buddhism (真言宗) and along with a fellow monk named Saichō, brought tea seeds to...
Shizuoka Wari
When my wife and I visited Shizuoka city, we went out for dinner with my friend Wataru. There he recommended to me a cocktail made with green tea: Shizuoka...
Kanes Organic Matcha Kaze
I have tasted many teas thanks to my friends at Kanes, but this is the first time that I review a matcha from them. Their organic matcha kaze (風,...
Japanese Tea: A Comprehensive Guide (Book Review)
This book’s author, Simona Zavadckyte, works at the international department of Obubu Tea Farms. She has years of experience with tea in Japan because of her work, and also...
Why does Japanese Green Tea Smell like Seaweed?
Japanese green teas often exhibit a fresh and marine aroma, very similar to seaweed. It’s an indicative of good quality. Some people mistakenly call it a “fishy” aroma. If...
Teabento Pika Cha
Teabento is an online tea store that has a good range of teas, and presents them in a cute manner. This tea is called “Pika Cha”. It has the...
Matcha Syrup
Called “matcha mitsu” (抹茶蜜) in Japan, matcha syrup is used for desserts and cocktails as well. I’m sharing this recipe with you. It’s very easy to prepare. First I...
The Samidori Tea Cultivar
Samidori (さみどり) is an unregistered tea cultivar from the Uji region. It’s not to be confused with Saemidori. This cultivar is suitable for shaded teas like gyokuro and tencha....
Material Matcha Uji MMU03
Material Matcha Uji is a new online shop that aims to sell exceptional matcha blends from Uji. It was founded by Etienne and Morgan, two young men from France who...
Sugiyama Hikosaburo: The Discoverer of Yabukita
If you’re into Japanese tea, you may have heard about the Yabukita cultivar. This tea cultivar was instrumental in the prosperity of the Japanese tea industry. It’s the most...
Culinary Tea (Book Review)
Culinary Tea, by Cynthia Gold and Lisë Stern, had been on my wish list for a long time. While I’m not very active in the kitchen, I do try...