Thursday TeaDay 9/23/10 JAPAN, choose your prefecture?

[Chip]

Welcome everyone to TeaDay. Please do drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day!

Yesterday, Fujian and Yunnan garnered most of the votes for fave tea growing regions in China. Zhejiang, the home of long Jing failed to get a vote. You can still vote and discuss this topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic takes us to the country of Japan. I have provided a few links that may help, or feel free to google. I hope that this discussion topic will give us the opportunity to learn a little about Japanese tea producing regions. Do you have a favorite one? Please learn and share.

http://www.jmode.com/madeinjapan/madein10-1-1.html
http://www.kaburagien.co.jp/english/kn_02.php
http://www.thefragrantleaf.com/japanesetea1.html

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up...

[brandon]

Uji Asamushi Sencha, please.

[debunix]

Still very new to japanese teas, but am loving several from Shizuoka via Yuuki-cha at present.

[omegapd]

No idea...

I'll just have what Chip is having.

EricW

[caplady1225]

GM All

no response to today's survey do not like Japanese Teas

working on my 2nd cup of my final sample from golden tea house
some green tea huang shan mao feng- hmm its OK

[brlarson]

Yame is a strong favorite and Uji is a my next fave.

Jing's Seasonal DHP for breakfast. Coming up, some Shui Jin Gui that I started last night.

[JBaymore]

If it is grown within the borders of Japan....... I drink it.

best,

................john

[TwoPynts]

I'm totally unschooled in Japanese growing regions so yeah, I'll have what Chip is having. Maybe something from on top of the mountain Mothra sleeps under.

[rabbit]

No idea...

I'll just have what Chip is having.

EricW

ditto!

[Chip]

... then some of you will be having sencha from "the land down under," that being the southern island of Kyushu, home of Kagoshima, home of Yutaka Midori!

Kagoshima seems to pride itself in innovation, in varietals and in production methods. 5 years ago, Kagoshima leaf was virtually "unobtainium," now it is everywhere. I just hope this does not cause a watering down of product to meet demand!

After Kago, I would say Uji (uber traditional), Yame (Gyokuro specialists that have branched out to sencha), and then Shizuoka (tea for the masses). There are clearly similarities, yet distinct differences going from one region to another. I love them all.

By the way, brlarson, did you know that Zencha will be offering Kagoshima leaf w/i a few months! This is a case in point of the rise in demand for Kago leaf. 4 years ago when I asked them if they would offer Kagoshima, they discounted the notion, now they are gung ho! Don't tell anyone!

[Victoria]

I don't really know the difference, except I know I have had good matcha from Uji.

Started the day with Darjeeling, next up fall Ali Shan from Norbu.

[RaynBeatle]

Mei
I'm into the classics (;

[artmom]

I know what a prefecture is, but I checked NONE, because I don't do green!!!

I'll have to look and see which prefecture my black Japanese Tea came from.

[Chip]

I know what a prefecture is, but I checked NONE, because I don't do green!!!

I'll have to look and see which prefecture my black Japanese Tea came from.

Kagoshima ...

Zencha is about to roll out a black and oolong from Shizuoka Shhh ... , but for now, I think all available to the West Japanese black is from Kago.

[entropyembrace]

Wow Chip! Exciting news from Zencha!

I said Shizuoka...my favourite green tea...Fuga Super Premium from Zencha was grown there.

Though I´ve depleted my sencha stocks and lately most of my green is matcha...I don´t know which prefecture my local shops matcha is from but the Kiri No Mori from O-cha that I´ve also been drinking is Uji.