MAFF annually holds tea serving event on the beginning of June and the middle of November in its “show room for consumers”. At the event, Japanese Tea Instructors serve the specialty teas which won the Japanese Tea Award. From 14th to 16th this November, 4 awarded teas will be served for visitors. Especially, the instructors in Kimono will welcome us with cups of excellent teas on 15th November, the day of Kimono cloth in Japan.
At the event, the instructors often serve some types of specialty teas prized as Japanese Tea Award on the previous year.
In my expectation, trendy types of awarded tea will be served in this year, for example, Hojicha and cold brewed tea.
As for the Hojicha roasted tea, “Hojicha of Semi-fermented tea” produced by Marutaka Farm won the vice-champion title of Japanese Tea Award 2017.
This special Hojicha consists of oolong teas of 5 cultivars, Koshun, Benifuki, Izumi and 2 native varieties. Marutaka Farm roasts these 5 oolong teas in different ways corresponding to each characteristics.
Hopefully we could meet the aromatic Hojicha at the event in MAFF!
As for the cold brewed tea, “Teian Aoka” produced by Ushijima Seicha was served on June at the event.
Ushijima Seicha arrange the processing to fulfill the best infusion by cold brew.
Last year, the instructors served cold-brewed Gyokuro, which has condensed umami.
As for the Gyokuro, special Sencha made from shade-grown tea shoots, “Uji Gyokuro Homare mark” produced by Shohokuen was elected as platina award in Tokyo Tea Party 2017.
Hopefully we would taste the best quality of Gyokuro at the event.
Lately ‘Saemidori’ cultivar has gained its popularity day by day. Last year 10 of 53 awarded teas are made from tea shoots of ‘Saemidori’ cultivar. This trendy cultivar could be also served at the “Show room for consumers”. Of course, ‘Saemidori’ Sencha is produced by various tea companies in Shizuoka prefecture.
Last year, the awarded teas served at the event were sold at the entrance of north annex of MAFF. I hope I can get the awarded teas at the entrance of event venue.
< Event information >
- Date : 11:30 – 13:00, 14th(Wed.) – 16th(Sat.), November
- Venue : The “consumers’ room” on the ground floor of the north annex of MAFF building.
- Address : 1 chome 2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo.
- Access : 1 minute on foot from A5 Exit of Marunouchi subway line or 3 minutes from A10 Exit of Chiyoda subway line.