Update 16/ Sep
Sayamaen’s Autumn Kuradashi-sales start at October 1. (～16th）
The second Japanese tea season of the year is coming!
It is said that Japanese tea is in season twice a year. The first time is in May, when the tea is the best fresh, and the second time is in October, in the fall, after the hot summer.
Is tea harvested in the fall the second tea season?
No, it is not. Tea(Sencha) is sold in fall does not mean “tea harvested in the fall”. Autumn season’s sencha means “Sencha specially finished for the fall season.”
New Shincha harvested in May is stored for a certain period of time in a preservation refrigerator in tea factory and then refinished ( firing, blending,,so on) around Oct.
What happens to the taste and aroma of preserved tea in under low temperature?
When tea (shincha) is stored at a constant low temperature for about six months (from May to September), the characteristic freshness, greenish astringency, and green leafy aroma of spring Shincha became change as more gentle Taste.
The taste of the tea also becomes less cloying, and the umami flavor becomes more pronounced. The tea blending and refining professional’s job is to identify the tea in this state, heat it up at the optimum temperature, and blend it to produce to have body flavor and aroma unique to autumn version.
You might think that the aroma and taste of tea would deteriorate if it is left to stand for a long time. However, there is a difference between deterioration and the process of changing tea over time. The tea stored under the strict low-temperature control of the tea finishing factory does not deteriorate, nor does it retain the freshness of tea, but rather changes its state while maintaining its freshness.
It is like a vintage wine that matures in taste and aroma over several years!
In the Edo period (1603-1867), Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who is said to have been a tea connoisseur, had the shincha harvested in May put into jars and brought to Oohitouge Pass, located in the northern part of Shizuoka City at an altitude of 1200 m. He kept the tea in the cool highlands during the summer and brought it to Sunpu Castle in the fall to enjoy its maid flavor as it matured.
【Autumn limited】 Fukamushi sencha from Makinohara, Shizuoka [Akigokoro] 100g / 1,080 yen.
All sencha on sale at Sayamaen will be the autumn-finished version from October 1. Please try and taste the difference！
Enjoy your cup of flavorfull Japanese tea!
Update 16/Sep 2022
IPPUKU News Letter 2022 Oct / A interview article of Tani Nori store
Tani Nori Store, a long-established seaweed laver（Nori) wholesaler in Chiba Prefecture. Just like tea, the quality and taste of Nori varies greatly depending on the location where it is grown and harvested, plus, the natural environment. We interviewed Saburo Tani. The market for Nori is shrinking, but needs are diversifying. The role of laver wholesalers seems to be changing along with the changing environment. Special selected roasted “SABURO” Nori is coming soon at Sayamaen..!
We have visited for an interview at Tani Nori Store, a seaweed wholesaler in Chiba. The Tani Nori warehouse we visit in there are so many carton boxes filled with mountains of dry seaweed from all over the region in Japan! This time we had interview with Mr.Saburo Tani who is the main manager of Responsible for handling and wholesaling all seaweed products to sales retailers, restaurants , supermarkets , food factories and so on.
It is interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of Japanese seaweed production and distribution from the perspective of a wholesaler.
Original Japanese News letter PDF
English translated News letter PDF
Update 1/May 2022
We have started sell 2022 New harvest Shincha green tea from Shizuoka.
Deep steamed Fukamushi Shincha by price 100g / 648 yen , 864yen , 1080yen, 1296yen
Regular Shincha by price 100g / 648 yen , 864yen , 1080yen, 1296yen, 1620yen, 2160yen,3240yen
Special version Gogumi blend Shincha is already on sale 100g / 2160yen ( Limited quantity available
Sales end when sold out）. Regular Gougumi Shincha will be sold by this week.
Specially organic grown Fukamushi sencha Hiyori will be sold around May 5 and Sayama Shincha “HONOKA” after May 9. (This date may change depending on the weather situation, and we will be informed on this blog as soon as it go on sale.)
Please check this blog for information on our shinchas arrivals, also posted in English!
Our shinchas are available at our online store, up to 2-100g packs of shincha can be deriver for ¥180 anywhere in Japan by postal smart mall service. Feel free to contact us if you have inquiries!
★ Would you like to taste Shincha? but you don’t have a teapot? We have now tea take-out service！Enjoy our selections Japanese tea inc. seasonal Shincha!
Blog → Ready to go! Take out available our seasonal Japanese Shincha green tea !
Update 19/April 2022
IPPUKU News Letter 2022 May / A interview article of organic Japanese tea cultivation farm Matsushitaen at Kakegawa city Shizuoka.
“Cheers with Tea!” Matsushita tea farm’s fukamushi sencha got the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the deep steamed sencha category at the 75th National Tea Fair in JAPAN. Mr. Yoshiharu Matsushita and his son Akira talked about What it Means for Organically Grown Tea to Win a Japanese Tea Award and the current Situation and some concerning. And their next surprising challenge is…
Original Japanese News letter PDF
English translated News letter PDF
Update / April 2022
The new harvest tea ”Shincha” season 2022 is just around the corner in May. We are preparing for the Shincha Sale soon! 🌱
We are have a special promotion offering free shipping throughout Japan in condition that you purchase Specific 100g Shincha pack via our online order page for 2,160 yen or more by April 24. Please visit the page! https://sayamaen-japanesetea.com/5398/
Check our blog What’s so special about Shincha?
