Harvest Experience Torutoru] Saitama Sayama Tea Picking

  • Saitama
  • Experience Gifu
Photo courtesy of Miyanoen

Now, let's start picking tea!

Summer is approaching and it's 88 nights~♪

When are the 88 Nights?
You may have heard this phrase as a nursery rhyme or a hand-play song, but it is a "tea picking song.
Eighty-eight nights is the day that falls on the 88th day counting from Risshun (the first day of spring). It is usually around May 2 every year, which is summer according to the calendar. This is the beginning of "tea plucking," the plucking of tea leaf sprouts! Tea made from the new shoots picked around 88 nights, from late April to early May, is called "shincha" or "first tea," followed by "nibancha" (second tea).
The first sprouts contain a large amount of catechins, amino acids (theanine), and vitamin C. The quality of the first sprouts is excellent, and the price is the highest of the year! I would love to go and pick such nourishing sprouts! And, oh my, oh my, they will even lend you a tea girl costume if you wish, so be sure to ask about it when you make your reservation!
New shoots full of nutrients stored during the winter. Photo courtesy of Miyanoen.

The story of Sayama tea leaves.

Speaking of tea, there are various production areas throughout Japan, but Saitama Prefecture, where Sayama tea is produced, is located in the northernmost part of the country.
Growing in the cold makes it thicker with thicker leaves. The "Sayama-biire" (fire-roasting in Sayama) process, which takes place during the finishing stage, gives it a more intense aroma and a sweet, rich, full-bodied flavor. It is said that "Shizuoka for color, Uji for aroma, and Sayama for taste!
The mainstream of Sayama tea is produced by farmers who grow their own leaves, make their own tea, and sell it.
Picking tea leaves Photo courtesy of Asamien
Drinking!　Photo courtesy of Asamien (*Photo is an image only)

*Farms where you can experience picking tea in Sayama City*.

(1) Miyanoen

Wearing a tea-picking outfit. Photo courtesy of Miyanoen.
(1) Miyano-en Reservation:

(2) Asami-en

Matcha (powdered green tea) experience. Photo courtesy of Asamien (*Photo is for reference only)

★Trivia★What is "Nodate"?

Nodate" is a tea ceremony where tea and powdered green tea are prepared and enjoyed outdoors.
In the tea ceremony, "nodate" refers to the process of making tea outdoors.
At Asamien, you can enjoy nodate during the current season!
(2) Asami-en Reservation:
*Please be sure to inquire or make a reservation in advance at the farm of your choice.
*Because growing conditions and harvest conditions are constantly changing, the information in this article may be subject to change.
*This article is current as of April 2022.
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