Shizuoka and green tea

Shizuoka is the largest green tea producing prefecture in Japan. In 2000, the total size of tea estates and farms in Shizuoka prefecture was 21,000 hectare (41.4% of the total size of all the tea farms in Japan). Shizuoka produces approximately 39,100tons green tea annually. Tea was originally grown in the subtropics forest. Therefore, tea prefers warm and damp weather. However, the tea grown in warm climate is not the best in taste. Under the cold climate the quality and taste get better, but more likely to get frost damaged. The most ideal climate for tea cultivation is temperature between 14-16 degrees Celsius and the temperature does not drop lower than -5 degrees Celsiusor -6 degrees Celsius even during the winter season. Most of the area in Shizuoka prefecture covers above desirable climate condition except maybe coastal city of Shimizu, and Okitsu, central city of Shizuoka and Hamamatsu, or the area of high altitude. Tea cultivation requires more than 1500 mm rains a year. Especially between March to October when tea grows greatly, tea should receive more than 1000mm rains. Climate in Shizuoka is also satisfying this desirable condition. Shizuoka prefecture has a long history on tea cultivation. In another words, they have great experience of producing tea. Along their long history with tea, numbers of people have been related to the tea industry and have put their effort on cultivating tea and developing better breed. Many companies design and produce machines for cultivation and processing in Shizuoka, and also 600 tea processing factories are sited in Shizuoka prefecture. A total of 70% of the harvested tea leaves in Japan is delivered to Shizuoka for the finishing process. All those elements are making Shizuoka to prefecture of green tea.