Varieties of Japanese Tea

The tea we normally drink has the plant name "Cha (tea)" . However, the intentional cultivation of tea was only started in the late Edo era. At the time, Cha was cultivated only for ornamental purposes. During the Meiji era, cultivation of tea for drinking was full developed. The type of tea developed by Hikosaburo Sugiyama, the farther of the most popular tea breed "Yabukita". Now, how many types of breeds exist in Japan? A total of 55 kinds of tea breeds were registered in 1988, including 43 kinds of green tea, 11 kinds of black tea, and 1 black and green tea combination. Surprisingly, there is even a breed of the Assam family registered in Japan. "Yabukita" is probably the most widely spread breed in Japan. "Sayamamidori", "Kanayamidori", "Yutakamidori", and "Yamakai" are also popular breed for producing Sencha. For Gyokuro, "Kyomidori" "Samidori" "Takachiho", and "Yamanami" are well known. For black tea, "Benihomare" , and for Tencha, "Asahi", "Oguramidori" are the most popular breeds. Also "Unkai" is a appropriate tea for Kamairi tea. Even from now on, new types of tea breeds will be keep developed as Japanese people's taste of preferences changes.

(Shigeru Yamauchi)