Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, is a neighborhood located to the east of Kyoto, famous for Uji-tea, and this is the area where Ohmi tea is produced.
Ohmi tea has great prestige and is loved by many for its rich flavor and fragrance, which are brought about by the rich nature, plenty of sunshine and the beautiful water and air from the surrounding Suzuka mountains.
As the legend goes, the history of the cultivation of tea in this area dates back to the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (1356), when a Zen monk, Donoh of Minami Tsuchiyama Johmyo-Ji Temple brought some tea seeds from Daitoku-Ji Temple in Kyoto to his temple and began to grow tea plants. It was in the Edo period that the production and sales of tea started on a full scale. An advanced tea-producing technology was adopted at an early stage and tea produce was sold as one of the local products along the main roads. Since the local climate and soil were fit for the production of tea, it became an export product in the Meiji period and its production volumes increased substantially.
Most green teas currently on the market are a mix of varieties of different teas. A wide variety of teas are produced throughout Japan, each of which has its characteristic taste, and it is becoming a pleasant way of appreciating tea to drink many different kinds in comparison.
We introduce to you an assortment of teas produced exclusively in Shiga Prefecture, instead of presenting with different sorts from other parts of Japan, so that you can enjoy each of the characteristic local teas in Shiga.
These single origin teas can stand their own separately or you can create your own, personal tea blend, mixing together your favorites. We also provide some recipes in the package as recommendations of how to mix different variants.
This assortment contains 6 × 30 g sencha variants:
SENCHA YABUKITA
This tea has a strong fragrance and clear taste and is also flavorful and nutritious.
Production center: Asamiya, Shigaraki-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 400 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: grown in direct sunlight
Temperature for roasting: 65℃
SENCHA OKUMIDORI
Sweet aftertaste remains in the mouth for a while. This tea is often mixed with Yabukita.
Production center: Tsuchiyama-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 300 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: shaded for several days
Temperature for roasting: 80℃
SENCHA SAEMIDORI
The color brewing from this tea is a beautiful clear green. This tea has a rich and sweet taste, and its fragrance is also fresh and sweet.
Production center: Tsuchiyama-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 300 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: shaded for several days
Temperature for roasting: 80℃
SENCHA ASATSUYU
This tea has a rich and sweet taste. It is called “Natural Gykuro.” It has a characteristic smell like roasted sweet potatoes.
Production center: Tsuchiyama-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 300 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: grown in direct sunlight
Temperature for roasting: 75℃
SENCHA OKUYUTAKA
This tea has a robust taste with a roasted aroma. It has a more comforting, rather than sophisticated taste.
Production center: Tsuchiyama-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 300 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: shaded for several days
Temperature for roasting: 75℃
SENCHA KOUSHUN
Koushun is a precious tea which is cultivated in Asamiya, Shigaraki-Cho, a famous place for the production center of Yabukita. It is completely different from other teas which are widely familiar. It has a unique fragrance and tastes just like herbal tea.
Production center: Asamiya, Shigaraki-Cho, Koka-shi, Shiga Prefecture
Altitude: 400 meters
Picking time: May 2018
Cultivation method: grown in direct sunlight
Temperature for roasting: 65℃