The harvest in Japan falls in May. Exactly 88 days after the first day of spring. This is a special time on the plantation. The new growth of tea is picked by hand, although today tea is picked by machines.
Tea growth
Tea goes into hibernation (rest) during the winter. With the arrival of spring, the plant transports accumulated mineral salts and other necessary things from the roots to the fresh shoot. Thanks to this, the shoot grows relatively quickly and the first young tea leaves should appear in a short time.
Shincha
This means "New Tea", which is harvested in the first harvest of the year. The leaves are bright green at this time, and the tea is valued for its taste and nutritional value. What's more, the amount of tea is limited, which is why its value is higher than other teas in the year. From freshly harvested leaves, in addition to tea, tempura is also made.
Global warming
In Japan itself, temperatures are getting higher throughout the year. This also affects tea. This year, the harvest started in mid-April. That is, about two weeks earlier than it used to be!
Tea picking technique
The new growth of tea should be picked, it can be easily recognized by the color and flexibility of the stem. Farmers try to pick tea when three young tea leaves appear. This way the tea will maintain its consistently good taste and aroma.
Shizuoka
This prefecture is located in the very center of Japan. In winter, the temperature does not drop below freezing, which affects the vegetation here. There is a large area of mountainous areas where farmers grow tea. Shizuoka is a leading place when it comes to the production of high-quality tea. It is said that thanks to its location, tea grows better here than in flat areas in other parts of the country.
People of Shizuoka
It should also be noted that green tea is widely available in this prefecture. From schools, hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, hospitals, green tea can be found literally at every step.
The residents of Shizuoka therefore drink green tea almost every day. Which significantly affects their health. And that is why, on a national scale, they can boast of a high body immunity. Hospitals here have fewer patients compared to other places in the Land of the Rising Sun.
We invite you to purchase green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture from Ciaba.
