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Ideal climate condition for tea cultivation

Most of the tea cultivated in Japan use Chinese seeds. In Japan, the most Northern region where tea can grow is Akita prefecture, and then to south, tea can be cultivated all through to Okinawa prefecture. However, the most suitable condition of growing tea is average temperature between 12.5-13 degrees Celsius or more, and in winter time, the temperature do not stay –15 degrees Celsius or less for a long hours, 1500mm rains will be needed annually (especially between April to October, 1000mm rains will be needed), Ph 4.5 to 5 and less acid soil with excellent drainage. Additional to the above requirement, fewer days of low temperature and brightly sunny days make extra fine tea. Kawane in Shizuoka, Uji in Kyoto, and Yame in Fukuoka are known for ideal places for cultivating fine tea. 52% of tea estate and farms are located on the flat land and 48% are located on the hillside. Among those on the hillside, half of them are located on the hillside of more than 200 altitudes. Most of the farms located on the high altitudes are specializing in producing high quality tea. The farms located on the flat land tend to produce medium grade tea with low price.