Tokyo Tea Party has been held between 30th Nov. and 2nd Dec. Today, the grand prize and second prize of Japanese Tea Award 2018 were opened in Tokyo Tea Party 2018 on Shibuya Hikarie in Shibuya ward, Tokyo.
Both of the grand and the second prize are “Tama Guri” green teas produced in Sonogi tea estate in Nagasaki prefecture.
Since the first Japanese Award 2014, “Tama Guri” green tea produced in Nagasaki prefecture has won the grand prize 3 times, in 2014, 2017 and 2018.
Mr. Kuwabara, the chief jury of Japanese Tea Award, said “The evaluation of appearance was not involved in this time. The judgement of Japanese Tea Award focuses on only flavor or quality, which can be sensed by consumers. I’ll write the reason why “Tama Guri” green tea could win the grand prize 3 times in “Cha”, the monthly journal published by the Chamber of Shizuoka Prefecture Tea Industry.”
ChaYou, literally meaning “tea friends”, was elected as the champion in Japanese Tea Award 2018. Their tea is “Tama Guri” green tea of ‘Asatsuyu’ cultivar, which is known as “natural Gyokuro” due to its richness of umami. Not only umami, the grand-awarded tea has mellow nutty aroma like marron. The flavor is also rich and mellow with green grassy note, which expresses freshness.
To my question “What kinds of attention do you pay to produce the quality?”, they answered “’Asatsuyu’ cultivar requires a sufficient steaming. On the other hand, the sufficient steaming makes processing more difficult, because sufficiently steamed leaves of ‘Asatsuyu’ easily stick to the wall of the first drying and rolling machine. We very very carefully roll the steamed leaves at the first step.”
Although ‘Asatsuyu’ tends to express somehow heavy odor in spite of rich umami, visitors said “This ‘Asatsuyu’ has no desirable aroma!!” Visitors’ impressions could indicate the sincere processing by ChaYou could result in the rich flavor without undesirable smell.
The vice-champion was Harada Seicha in Hasami region in Sonogi tea estate. The second-prized tea is “Tama Guri” green tea of ‘Saemidori’ cultivar, named as “KOKOROCHA Onigimidori”. Mr. Harada said “KOKOROCHA means “heartfelt hospitality”, hoping this tea contribute to heartfelt communications, such as gift for expressing appreciation, welcoming guests with “Omotenashi” hospitality.
The flavor is delicate and mellow with sweet aroma, which has slightly nutty and herbal nuance.
In addition, my eyes cannot help stopping on the special Kyusu tea pot. The madam of Harada Seicha kindly explained that this Kyusu tea pot is “Hasamiyaki”, local pottery historically grown in Hasami region in Higashi Sonogi tea estate.
Other awarded teas were also served by Japanese tea instructors.
I have been entirely delighted with these excellent teas, as well as other visitors.
We could see the other teas prized as platina awards at the entrance. The organizers explained the features of each platina award tea.
The venue was full of visitors! Indicating the high demand for the excellent specialty teas. As for the talk show, tickets were sold out on the first day when the Association of Japanese Tea Instructors started to sell the ticket!
Hopefully the Japanese Tea Award could activate the competition between tea farmers and tea estates, accelerating the sophistication of tea production in Japan.