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Information: Japan produces some of the best green tea in the world. The efficiency of Japan's tea production is amongst the highest in the world reaching yields of 1500 pounds per acre. Despite the fact that mechanical plucking is used, the tea made is generally considered the best green tea in the world. Interestingly, due to its northere latitude all the tea fields have large fans covering the whole acreage. The fans are turned on during cold snaps to circulate the air and protect the tea bush from freezing. Japan only exports about 1 - 2 percent of its total production and recently has become a leading importer of the finest teas in the world. Over half of the yearly production of Japanese tea comes from Shizuoka. The production of green tea entails the steaming of the green leaf and hand or machine rubbing. The teas are then pan-fried or basket fired which gives them a distinctive appearance and glossy look and feel. These methods give a taste that is light in color but rich and full in the cup. Sencha is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies marking events of personal importance. In the tyhpe of ceremony it is the ritual that is of paramount importance as the individual is being acknowledged. For ceremonies marking 'life altering events', matcha is used. Matcha is a sencha that has been turned into powder through a painstaking but important ritual. Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to just before a boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cut in the teapot. Pour your hot water over the leaves. Let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (The longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Add milk and sugar to taste. Iced tea brewing method: Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of very hot water over to tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and garnish and sweeten to taste if desired. |