Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Den’s Tea
Product Description:
As you may know, 99% of the current tea production in Japan is green tea. However, about 130 years ago Japan tried to produce and export black tea as a government policy.
Tea scholar, Mr. Tada (1829-1896), was sent to China and India to acquire black tea manufacturing skills in 1875.
Upon his return, he established a tea farm at Mariko in Shizuoka and since then, Mariko has been a mecca for Japanese black tea. However, black tea never did become a major industry in Japan as some peopled had hoped.One tea farmer in Mariko, Mr. Matsumura, has been manufacturing black tea since the 1950’s as well as growing high quality green tea. Our parent company, Shirakata-Denshiro Shoten, has done business with Mr. Matsumura for a long time. Mr. Matsumura even created the manufacturing machine for black tea and is considered the father of modern black tea production in Shizuoka. His tea is made with the tea species “Beni Fuki”. The cup is mild with very little bitterness and is highly aromatic. Its flavor is different from the black teas made in major Asian and African producing countries.
Tasters Review:
When I think of awesome Green Tea offerings one company I always think of is Den’s Tea. This is one of their Black Teas and I must say it’s pretty darned awesome as well!
Shizuoka Black Tea from Den’s Tea is nice and bold and slightly astringent. The aroma is cakey-crust-like…and I just love it!
I can taste a sencha-like comparison and I think it’s lovely and unique. I didn’t get as much of the oolong comparison they mentioned (in the product description) with the slight fruity notes but it could be because I tend to over infuse the amount of loose leaf too. I like my teas STRONG. I’m not worried or bothered by that because I am very excited about the cups I have been drinking of this and am totally jazzed I was able to try this!
This is nice hot or cold, too, which is GREAT because I’m a HUGE fan of strong, black iced teas as well! YAY!
Oooooh, man. I want to try this stuff so bad. I’ve only seen a few rumblings of Japanese black teas…but not much. “Kocha” has been on my list for a long time.