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Tea report from New York

Japanese tea in New York.

My last entry dealt with Chinese tea. This time, we'll discuss the staple of life in Japan, the green tea.

In Japan, almost all green tea is produced domestically, but in the States, it is imported from around the world, including Japan, China and even Argentina. So to distinguish, green tea from Japan comes labeled as "Japanese" green tea. And many see the "Japanese" label as an indication of higher quality.

Japanese tea in America is a relatively new phenomenon. The recent popularity of sushi and the health boom raised green tea's profile. Before, Japanese tea to most Americans was "that flavorless drink you get at Japanese restaurants".

Toraya storefront in Manhattan's Upper East Side Inside TorayaYou can enjoy tea, as well as Japanese snacks and light meals
Toraya storefront in Manhattan's Upper East Side Inside TorayaYou can enjoy tea, as well as Japanese snacks and light meals

However, there was a time in this country when Japanese and Chinese tea were actually regularly consumed just as much as black tea. But with the start of World War II, the top two green tea exporters China and Japan were taken off the market, as was green tea itself. Black tea, which remained a part of American lifestyle, continues to be the most prevalent type of tea in this country.

A hot menu item, vibrant green iced matchaA display of different types of tea leaves.
A hot menu item, vibrant green iced matchaA display of different types of tea leaves.
The lacquer plates painted red gives off a very Japanese feel.

There are several places to enjoy Japanese green tea in New York. One such place is Toraya, an establishment known for introducing Japanese aesthetics through traditional sweets. In the bright tea room where the tea's color jumps out, customers can take in hojicha, sencha and matcha, both hot and iced. Gyokuro and genmai-cha joined the menu as well about two years ago by popular demand. Though many American drinkers add honey or sugar to green tea as they would for black tea, very few customers at Toraya drink their tea sweet. This may be a sign that Japanese tea drinking etiquette is more established. My hope is that tea can create more interest in Japanese culture.

Reporter:Keiko Taniguchi