New harvest 2012 teas are now in! We are excited about some
new teas that have been added to our line-up. These include two new organic
offerings from Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. Miyazaki
Organic Sencha is an asamushi
(ligh-steamed) sencha from Koyu County on Miyazaki’s east coast, a premier tea
growing region for Miyazaki Prefecture. From neighboring Oita Prefecture comes Oita
Organic Sencha, another asamushi-sencha,
this one from Usuki, an area famous for the largest stone Buddhas in Japan, the
Usuki Sekibutsu. Both are flavorful,
with low to medium astringency. Our third new tea is from Kouchi Prefecture on
Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. Even in Japan, Shikoku teas are
fairly uncommon and I had not tasted one until recently. Our Kouchi Sencha is
also asamushi, and comes from Tsuno
Village in the Niyodogawa region. The clean waters of this area are essential
to creating the famous Tosa Washi
(handmade paper of Tosa) and also likely contribute to the favorable growing
environment for this full flavored and slightly astringent tea. We’re also
happy to bring back two of our popular teas from Shizuoka, Chashi Meijin
Fukamushi Sencha from Kakegawa and Genmaicha from Kawane.
Although we did not purchase any tea from Shizuoka in 2011,
the reports from 2012’s harvest were a great relief. Radiation levels in brewed
tea from all regions of the prefecture came in as “Not Detectable.” A link to
the report is here: http://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/sangyou/sa-340/cha/documents/2011result0717.pdf. However, due to the radiation findings last year in regions
such as Okabe and Ashikubo, we did decide to wait yet another year to purchase
tea from these areas. So unfortunately, we will not stock our Ashikubo Gold
Sencha, Asahina Kabusecha, or Asahina Karigane for the 2012-2013 season, as well
as our Sayama-cha from Saitama Prefecture. This year, Kyushu was also hit hard
by heavy rain and flooding and one the areas worst affected was the town of
Yame in Fukuoka Prefecture. This is where our Gyokuro comes from. And although
our current stock is from the first harvest, prior to the rains, we are hopeful
that the later summer harvests will continue to be available and delicious. We
hope our other old & new offerings will give you plenty of variety to
choose from and enjoy!
I’m also very proud to offer some wonderful pottery from the
Tagami Family in the town of Mashiko, Japan. Mashiko was also hard hit by the
earthquake last year (and a tornado this spring!) and has been rebuilding ever
since. I met the Tagami Family when I lived in Mashiko in 1999-2000. They currently
represent the family’s 4th & 5th generation of
potters in Mashiko and carry on a traditional of producing functional ceramics
with Mashiko aesthetics taught to the 3rd generation potter Sudo
Takeo by National Living Treasure Hamada Shoji. These wares for tea and sake can be found on our WaSabiDou
website, www.mingei-wasabidou.com,
as well as two tea cups on our Charaku Fine Japanese Tea website, www.charaku-tea.com, go to ‘shop’ pages under “tea ware.” We hope
you will enjoy these fine examples of contemporary mingei (folk craft.)
In addition, we have several pieces available from good friend, George Gledhill
of Payette, ID. These are mostly wood-fired, tea-related works from this
spring’s firing of his newly built climbing kiln (noborigama) and are really exceptional. Again, please visit our
WaSabiDou site to see the full inventory.
We still send our thoughts and prayers for a continued
recovery to the tea farmers, potters, colleagues, friends, relatives, and
residents of Japan. Many thanks to all of you who are doing the same.
Sincerely,
Tatsuo
