Zaracha November 2019 – Zaracha from Shimane This month we selected a Zaracha (ざら茶) from the region of Tsuwano (津和野), in the prefecture of Shimane (島根). Field of Kawaraketsumei in the prefecture of Shimane Zaracha As I told you about the Shimane (島根) prefecture last month, it becomes a special place for Japanese deities in October. Zaracha
Gyokuro October 2019 – Gyokuro Karigane from Yame This month we selected a Gyokuro Karigane (玉露雁が音) from Yame (八女), in the prefecture of Fukuoka (福岡). Gyokuro Karigane The type of this green tea has four names, depending on the region of Japan it is produced in. In general, especially in the area of Tōkyō, we call it Kukicha
Yuzu September 2019 – Organic Yuzu Sencha from Nara and Kōchi We prepared a Yuzu Sencha (柚子煎茶) this month, a Sencha (煎茶) mixed with zests of yuzu. Organic Yuzu Sencha A Sencha cultivated at the altitude of 500 meters in the highland of Nara (奈良) met yuzu (柚子) grown in the nature of Kōchi (高知). The tea is healthy and good
Hojicha August 2019 – Hōjicha from Kagoshima/Osaka This month we selected a Hōjicha (ほうじ茶) harvested in the prefecture of Kagoshima (鹿児島), and roasted in Sakai (堺) in the prefecture of Osaka (大阪). Hōjicha A Hōjicha, or roasted green tea, produced from a green tea from Kagoshima, and Osaka’s roasting technology. We barely produce green tea in
Shincha July 2019 – Organic Shincha from Kawane For the month of July we prepared another organic Shincha (新茶), of type Sencha (煎茶), from the region of Kawane (川根) in the prefecture of Shizuoka (静岡). Second organic Shincha of the year After the Shincha from Tanegashima in southern Japan, we are moving up to the middle of Japan,
Shincha June 2019 – Organic Shincha from Tanegashima This month we prepared an organic Shincha (新茶), of type Sencha (煎茶), from the island of Tanegashima (種子島), part of the Ōsumi Islands (大隅諸島), all the way in the South of Japan! Organic Shincha Shincha can be translated as "new green tea" or "first flush green tea". At last the
Genmaicha May 2019 – Genmaicha from Shimane For the beginning of the Reiwa era, we have selected a Genmaicha (玄米茶) from the prefecture of Shimane (島根). Enjoy the light bitterness of the tea combined to the sweetness of Nita rice (仁多米)! Genmaicha This Genmaicha (玄米茶), or “brown rice green tea” in English, comes from Shimane prefecture. It
Tamaryokucha April 2019 – Tamaryokucha from Shimabara This month we selected a Tamaryokucha (玉緑茶) from Shimabara (島原), in the prefecture of Nagasaki (長崎県). Tamaryokucha is also called Guricha (ぐり茶) curly tea, owing to the shape of its leaves. Steep up to three times, and enjoy its soft taste, with tones of citrus, grass and berries! Tamaryokucha This
Hōji Bancha March 2019 – Hōjibancha from Tsukigase This month we selected a Hōjibancha (ほうじ番茶) from Tsukigase (月ヶ瀬) in the prefecture of Nara (奈良). It a light and soft smoked tea, recommended to everybody! Organic Hōjibancha The name of Hōjibancha (ほうじ番茶) is a portmanteau formed from Hōjicha (ほうじ茶) and Bancha (番茶). Its processing is done according to that
Yame February 2019 – Gyokuro from Hoshino Thank you for your patience! Finally, we are sending you Gyokuro again. This month we selected a Gyokuro (玉露) from the village of Hoshino (星野村), in the district of Yame (八女), in the prefecture of Fukuoka (福岡). Gyokuro It is said that Gyokuro is the king of Japanese green teas.
Kakegawa January 2019 – Kakegawacha from Shizuoka 明けましておめでとうございます! Akemashite Omedetō Gozaimasu! Best wishes for a happy, prosperous and healthy new year 2019! To make a good start for our first Tomotcha of the year, we selected a Kakegawacha (掛川茶), a type of Fukamushicha (深蒸し茶) from the city of Kakegawa (掛川市) in the prefecture of Shizuoka (静岡). Shizuoka
Wakōcha December 2018 – Wakōcha from Toyama For the very first time, Tomotcha has selected a Wakōcha (和紅茶), that is to say a Japanese black tea. It comes from the city of Toyama (富山), in the prefecture of Toyama (富山). Wakōcha - Japanese Black Tea It's interesting to me, because it is called black tea among Westerners,
Sencha November 2018 – Yuzu Sencha from Uji and Tokushima This month we selected a Yuzu Sencha (柚子煎茶). This is not exactly what I would call an authentic green tea, however it's a nice green tea mixed with yuzu zest. Yuzu Sencha Yuzu (柚子) is a citrus fruit. Japan is the number one country for the production and consumption of
Genmaicha September 2018 – Genmaicha from Japan This month we are doing a tour of Japan! We selected a Genmaicha (玄米茶) with ingredients picked from all over Japan: green teas grown in the prefectures of Mie (三重) and Shizuoka (静岡), brown rice grown in the prefecture of Yamagata (山形), matcha refined in Uji (宇治) and black soybeans
Hojicha August 2018 – Hōjicha from Aichi This month we selected a Hōjicha (ほうじ茶) from Shinshiro (新城), in the prefecture of Aichi (愛知). Hōjicha The prefecture of Aichi is the belly button of the Japanese archipelago. This prefecture is not far from the regions where we produce a lot of green tea, such as Shizuoka (No.1)
Chirancha July 2018 – Shincha from Kagoshima The season of Shincha (新茶) has come! For 2018, we selected that of Chiran (知覧) in the prefecture of Kagoshima (鹿児島). Shincha We selected a shincha from the prefecture of Kagoshima this year, the second region in terms of green tea production in Japan, located on the island of Kyūshū,
Karigane June 2018 – Kariganecha from Kyōto This month we selected a Kariganecha (雁ヶ音茶) from the region of Uji (宇治), in the prefecture of Kyōto (京都). Kariganecha Kariganecha (雁ヶ音茶) is the name used in Kyōto to designate teas made of stalks. Outside of Kyōto stalk teas are called Kukicha (茎茶), which literally means "stalk tea". However, now
Hojicha May 2018 – Shimanto Hōjicha from Kōchi This month we selected a Shimanto Hōjicha (四万十ほうじ茶) in the village of Shimanto (四万十) from the prefecture of Kōchi (高知), on the island of Shikoku (四国). Shimanto Hōjicha This is a Hōjicha (ほうじ茶) produced on the bank of Shimanto River (四万十). The production area is wrapped in fog in the
Shizuoka April 2018 – Sakura Ryokucha from Shizuoka We selected a Sakura Ryokucha (桜緑茶) from Kawane (川根), in the prefecture of Shizuoka (静岡). Sakura Ryokucha Sakura Ryokucha (桜緑茶) is a green tea with a flavor of Sakura (桜), that is to say of cherry blossom beloved by all Japanese people. It does not contain any artificial ingredient, or
Kyushu March 2018 – Tamaryokucha from Saga We selected a Tamaryokucha (玉緑茶) of Ureshino (嬉野) in the prefecture of Saga (佐賀). Tamaryokucha (Ureshinocha) Tamaryokucha (玉緑茶) or Ureshinocha (嬉野茶) is produced in the northern region Kyūshū called Ureshino (嬉野). There are two types of Tamaryokucha: roasted and steamed. The method of roasting tealeaves in the pan was brought
Kabusecha February 2018 – Kabusecha from Suizawa, in the prefecture of Mie This month we picked a Kabusecha (かぶせ茶). This is the first green tea that we chose when starting Tomotcha just 3 years ago. We are going back to the origin to send you an excellent Japanese tea. Kabusecha The origin of Kabusecha (かぶせ茶) is here, in the district of Suizawa
Obukucha January 2018 – Ōbukucha from Kyōto 2018 has come! We wish you a Happy New Year. For a good start, we selected a lucky tea, an Ōbukucha (大福茶) from the city of Kyōto (京都), in the prefecture of Kyōto (京都). Ōbukucha We already introduced you to Ōbukucha (大福茶), exactly 2 years ago. This name is old,
Hojicha December 2017 – Hōjicha from Shiga/Tōkyō This month we selected a Hōjicha (ほうじ茶) roasted in Tōkyō (東京), using green tea from the prefecture of Shiga (滋賀). Hōjicha This Hōjicha (ほうじ茶), literally "roasted tea", is first of all produced as an unroasted green tea in the prefecture of Shiga (滋賀), and then remade at Morinoen (森乃園) in
Uji November 2017 – Aracha from Kyōto This month we selected an Aracha (荒茶) from Uji (宇治) in the prefecture of Kyōto (京都). Aracha Aracha (荒茶) is steamed and dried after the tea harvest of May. We do not sort leaves or stalks. We also do not fix the size of the tea. It’s literally a
Genmaicha October 2017 - Genmaicha from Kaga We selected a Genmaicha (玄米茶) from Kaga (加賀), in the prefecture of Ishikawa (石川). Genmaicha We can say of Genmaicha (玄米茶) that it's the first flavoured green tea thanks to the addition of brown rice, or "genmai" (玄米) in Japanese. We didn’t add anything to green tea until the
