Entries tagged as Japanese green tea
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Healthy Sapporo
Thursday, June 25. 2009
There’s a quaintness about Sapporo that takes me back to my childhood in Kent (now suburban London), 55 years ago. It’s a comfort zone that’s delightful to revisit and a reminder of how community pride and concern, home grown produce (a war time legacy when I was a kid), for the family and sharing with neighbours and the consequent slow cooking improves one’s wellbeing.
In our street the young mum’s seem happy to be working at home, maybe a luxury in this modern world because house prices are affordable to pay off on a single income here. Cars are driven with caution allowing children to play in the road with confidence; tiny tots walk to school unescorted without fear and seniors are active in their gardens, taking a stroll or enjoying their cross between ‘pitch and put' and putting golf-like game. In essence the streets are alive and therefore, safe. In nearly a year of living here now I’ve not witnessed an act of vandalism; seen a drunk or had hoons dropping ‘wheelies’ on the street in the early hours of the morning.
Apart from the home grown food Sapporo benefits from a rich volcanic soil, it’s still host to dormant volcanoes and frequent earth tremors (you seldom feel them and get used to the TV. announcements); subsequently agriculture is evident on a massive scale. On my now regular summer drives into the country I’ve witnessed onions, melons (in hot houses), rice, asparagus and potatoes on farms stretching as far as the eye can see. Fish and other seafood are plentiful and cheap here too.
Yesterday we visited Kyogoku park which sits on the foothills of Yotiezan (Hokkaido’s Mt Fuji), and hosts a magnificent spring. The water is fast running, cold, pure and sweet. The authorities of this beautiful park have been thoughtful enough to supply mugs for visitors to capture a taste from the water cascading through wooden pipes running adjacent to a waterfall.
Peace of mind, Japanese Green Tea and a healthy diet have improved this scribe’s life immensely. Thanks Sapporo.
In our street the young mum’s seem happy to be working at home, maybe a luxury in this modern world because house prices are affordable to pay off on a single income here. Cars are driven with caution allowing children to play in the road with confidence; tiny tots walk to school unescorted without fear and seniors are active in their gardens, taking a stroll or enjoying their cross between ‘pitch and put' and putting golf-like game. In essence the streets are alive and therefore, safe. In nearly a year of living here now I’ve not witnessed an act of vandalism; seen a drunk or had hoons dropping ‘wheelies’ on the street in the early hours of the morning.
Apart from the home grown food Sapporo benefits from a rich volcanic soil, it’s still host to dormant volcanoes and frequent earth tremors (you seldom feel them and get used to the TV. announcements); subsequently agriculture is evident on a massive scale. On my now regular summer drives into the country I’ve witnessed onions, melons (in hot houses), rice, asparagus and potatoes on farms stretching as far as the eye can see. Fish and other seafood are plentiful and cheap here too.
Yesterday we visited Kyogoku park which sits on the foothills of Yotiezan (Hokkaido’s Mt Fuji), and hosts a magnificent spring. The water is fast running, cold, pure and sweet. The authorities of this beautiful park have been thoughtful enough to supply mugs for visitors to capture a taste from the water cascading through wooden pipes running adjacent to a waterfall.
Peace of mind, Japanese Green Tea and a healthy diet have improved this scribe’s life immensely. Thanks Sapporo.
Harvest time has come
Wednesday, April 29. 2009
Harvest season of 2009 has started in Shizuoka where they’re having humungous tasting sessions in the morning as numerous tea samples arrive from the farmers on a daily basis. Herewith some photo’s of the hand picking taken just a few days ago compliments of Maruyama Tea Products. 2009’s quality green tea will soon be available in our shop.
Our Spring/Summer Specials have been published on line if you’ve missed them. We’re offering a 5 for 4 special on two of our best selling teas + ‘The Green Tea Book’ as an incentive to new members. Existing members who would like a copy of the book please let me know at derek@tea-charaku.com and we’ll ship a copy to you with your next order. Watch out for new developments on our web site over the next few months to facilitate easier shopping for you and a new look page format.
Our Spring/Summer Specials have been published on line if you’ve missed them. We’re offering a 5 for 4 special on two of our best selling teas + ‘The Green Tea Book’ as an incentive to new members. Existing members who would like a copy of the book please let me know at derek@tea-charaku.com and we’ll ship a copy to you with your next order. Watch out for new developments on our web site over the next few months to facilitate easier shopping for you and a new look page format.
Charaku's Home Brand
Wednesday, February 25. 2009
For those of you who can recollect the fairytale of Cinderella (it’s coming back to me through a vague mist), there’s an opportunity to slip in an analogy here. Gyokuro is left behind in popularity with Westerners by her, far from ugly, sisters Sencha and Matcha. Maybe it’s because her name is more difficult to get our tongues around than her siblings or just a bad public relations team. Anyway like the prince found the slipper we have discovered a delightful Gyokuro for our members. We found it in Kyoto the old capital and very much the cultural heart of Japan. It’s certified by the Japanese Government as a genuine organic product too.To remind you of the qualities of Gyokuro here’s an extract from our web site:
“Gyokuro is a type of green tea that is cultivated in the shade for certain period (eg, 20 days in Uji/Kyoto area), which brings out a rich and mellow flavor. Tea leaves for Gyokuro are processed through steaming, drying, rubbing, and sorting. Gyokuro is regarded as the finest green tea and it has a sweeter and less bitter taste than Sencha. Gyokuro is enjoyed best when brewed taking time by using a lower temperature compared to other kinds of green tea, and is typically served for entertaining guests or on special occasions in Japan.”
At US$$21.50 per 100g packet our organic Gyokuro is great value. Stocks are limited. Look forward to our ‘home’ brand Sencha which will be available in March.
