The Association of Japanese Tea Instructors, the organizer of Japanese Tea Awards, hold a special tour of Japanese Tea Award 2018 for the international VIPs living in Japan. The tour consisted of the observation in the Iruma City Museum “ALIT”, tea experiences in Saitama Tea Industrial Research Institute and electing the best one from 19 specialty teas winning platina awards in Japanese Tea Award 2018.
As far as I interviewed, all of them were entirely delighted and satisfied with the specialty teas and tea experiences.
The result of the elections in all around Japan, including this competition in the Saitam Tea Research Institute, will be opened on 2nd December in Tokyo Tea Party held in Shibuya Hikarie. If you are interested in the Tokyo Tea Party, the report of Tokyo Tea Party 2017 would be helpful.
I’d like to share the scenes of tea experiences demonstrated in the tour as follows.
1. Observation in Iruma City Museum “ALIT”
We enjoyed looking exhibitions in ALIT museum, where various goods related to tea industry and culture are exhibited.
The exhibition of past machines for tea processing.
The replica of “Chaya” tea stand in the past. “Chaya” was originally a place for rest, where visitors can offer tea and somethig to eat.
The replica of “Chashitu”, tea room for tea ceremony, allows us to look its inside.
The exbitions of histrical writtings related to “Baisaou”, who spread “Sencha” culture in Japan.
2. Tea Experiences in Saitama Tea Industrial Research Institute
Saitama Tea Industrial Research Institute provided visitors with various tea experiences such as tea hand picking, observation in tea factory and demonstration of “Temomi” hand rolling Sencha.
3. Selection of the best one from 19 specialty teas winning Platina Award
At the end of this tour, visitors judged the most impressive tea for them from 19 specialty teas winning Platina Award in Japanese Tea Award 2018.
I’m looking forward to seeing the final selection for the best prize in Japnese Tea Award 2018 in Tokyo Tea Party in Shibuya Hikarie on 2nd December!!