Happy new year! May Teas and Fortunes Be With You!
Speaking fortunes, Japan has a culture of drinking “Fukucha”, which literally means “fortune tea”.
The package and infusions of “Fukucha” sold in tea shops belonging to Tokyo Tea Industry Cooperative.
Fukucha is a kind of ceremonial teas, drunk at 1st January praying peaceful lives. It is derived from the successful overcoming epidemic by a virtuous Monk Kuya. In 951, when an epidemic occurred in Kyoto, he served teas infused with Ume plum and Kombu kelp for people diseased. As a result, many people could recover. It is also believed the monk got a revelation to serve the tea offered to Avalokiteśvara in his dream. According to the description on the package of Fukucha, blending Ume plum and Kombu kelp might start from Muromachi era, approx.. 200 years later than the successful calming down of epidemic by tea.
As Japanese often use homonym to give multi-meanings on the word for good lucks. According to the tendency, the meaning of Fukucha has changed from offered tea to fortune tea, where the word of “Fuku” has some meanings such as offering, fortune, secondary, etc. Besides, the ingredients have also other meanings as shown in the picture below.
From the 1st day, we can enjoy the harmony of various natural flavor such as toasty aroma of beans and genmai, slightly sour taste of dried Ume plum, unique umami, and of course fresh green flavor of green tea.
Hopefully the fortune tea bring many happiness to you.