Minori Harest Festival is a celebration of the foods grown on the land in Japan. Most of harvest festivals in Japan are often held in November, because many crops are harvested in autumn season. A Japanese religious festival “Niiname-sai” is also held in the middle of November.
Every year all prefectures bring each local specialty products to the festival. In this year, 3 local products will be brought from Shizuoka.
(1) Numazu tea
Numazu city will bring the local specialty tea produced in the tea estate on Mt. Ashitaka, which is located between Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay. Please enjoy the tea form Numazu blessed by clean air and water under the shade of Mt. Fuji.
(2) Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
Wasabi is a Japanese spice and originated from Shizuoka in Japan. The finest Wasabi has not only hot flavor but also sweetness. In the festival, we will try the Wasabi paste freshly grated and some pickles of Wasabi.
Wasabi had been applied for the certification of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System, so-called GIAHS in short. The view of Wasabi field is so beautiful.
(3) Sakura shrimp
Sakura shrimp is one of the most famous sea foods caught in Suruga Bay. The small shrimp has a bright pale red color and it change to clear red by heating. “Tempura” fried Sakura shrimp is one of the best way to enjoy it.
Awarded Specialty Teas served by Japanese Tea Instructors
Japanese tea instructors will serves prominent specialty teas which won the best prize in each tea segment in Japanese Tea Award 2016.
Aromatic Sencha of ‘Koshun’ cultivar will delight you due to its fresh fragrance like harb and flower with milky scent. Marutaka tea farm, the producer of the tea, has a marvelous skill controlling withering and steaming tea leaves with keeping less evaporation of aroma compounds.
An example of ‘Koshun’ green tea produced by Maruhi Seicha Tea Factory in Iwate tea estate in Shizuoka pref.
Black tea of Kanetou Miura-en would also provide fruits-like aroma and mild tannins.
Black teas produced by Kanetou Miura-en. The left one “Premiun Spring Hand Pluck” is prized 1st place in the tea competition in Shizuoka prefecture.
Japanese tea instructors will serve green tea of ‘Saemidori’ cultivar in the skillful manner. Green tea of ‘Saemidori’ cultivar has been gaining its popularity due to its color of brilliant green and mild taste. Infusion in lower temperature successfully provide an umami-rich tea with bright color like emerald. The ‘Saemidori’ green tea served in the festival will come from Nagasaki prefecture. I’d like many people to enjoy the flavor of the ‘Saemidori’ green tea.
An example of ‘Saemidori’ green tea.
It seems that farmers tend to more deeply steam tea shoots of ‘Saemidori’ cultivar. I think they intend to produce more brilliant green color.
Nishio Matcha New Products
Some local associations present and exhibit their new products developed lately. Some tea businesses in Nishio city, which is famous for “Nishio Matcha”, will exhibit their new confection “Nishio Matcha Karinto”.
That is a fried sugared snack containing rich Matcha produced in Nishio region. The association of local businesses in Nishio issued their new products for the visitors in on 7th and 8th October in “Nishio Products Expo”.
Tea New Products by Veterans
Japanese black tea of less-caffeine will be also served, which has been developed by Dr. Hara.
The association of Japanese tea promotion will demonstrate brewing tasteful tea by using Tea Espresso Machine.
Let’s enjoy specialty tea, local foods and new products in Minori Harvest Festival!!
< Event Infromation >
- Name : Minori Harvest Festival
- Data : 10:00 – 17:00, 10th (Fri) – 11th (Sat), November
- Venue : 4th floor in the Ikebukuro Sunshine City World Import Mart Bldg.
- Access : See the guide of official web page of Ikebukuro Sunshine City.
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