Tag Archives: culture

Why is Gyokuro Shade-Grown Green Tea Expensive?

10.02.2019Green Tea, Tea CulturecultureC. Xu

senbird organic gyokuro shade grown green tea on wooden board

It may be quite a shock to many how Gyokuro’s price is quite more expensive than some may expect. Even in Japan, though most people know about the existence of gyokuro, most have not yet tasted this type of green tea. Gyokuro has a distinct aroma and flavor, with many health benefits. The famous regions

3 Traditional Japanese Tea Houses to Visit in Kyoto

09.03.2019Japan Culture, TravelcultureC. Xu

mochi dessert with freshly whisked matcha green tea in chawan at a Japanese tea house

The Japanese tea ceremony, often called Chanoyu, Chado, or Sado in Japanese is the ritual of preparing and serving tea. The tea ceremony emphasizes the considerate gestures and movements of the host, allowing guests to appreciate the bowl of tea served. However, the focus on the preparation and presentation of tea did not begin until

Shizuoka’s Secret: The Best Green Tea in Japan

06.07.2019Japan Culture, Travelculture, green teaC. Thompson

senbird-organic-Japanese-tea-field-sencha-classic-green-tea-hojicha-roasted-green-tea-gyokuro-shade-grown-green-tea-genmaicha-genmai-cha-genmai-tea-brown-rice-green-tea

The traditions surrounding the growth and production of Japanese green tea go back hundreds of years, but the green tea from Shizuoka—an area responsible for about 40% of all of Japan’s green tea production and our main source of vendors—is especially exquisite. What could Shizuoka’s secret be to producing such flavorful and aromatic tea? It

The Origin of The Name “Tea”

04.15.2019Tea CulturecultureS. Tasaki

Have you ever wondered how the name “Tea” came to fruition? The word “Tea” is used by all English speakers, however, the word for tea is a little different depending on where you are in the world. In this article, we’re going back in tea history to walk through the origin and evolution of the

The Growing Popularity of Matcha Green Tea

04.06.2019Green Tea, Tea Cultureculture, matchaC. Xu

senbird-organic-ceremonial-matcha-powdered-green-tea-whisked in white bowl

With impressive health benefits and a rich taste, matcha’s popularity has grown over the recent years. For centuries, Japan has been using matcha in tea ceremonies as it enhances focus while calming the body and mind. The principle of the Japanese tea ceremony is to enjoy and appreciate your cup of tea, which carries into

Where Tea Originated: A Brief History Of Tea In China, Japan and the West

03.24.2019Tea CulturecultureC. Yu

senbir-organic-Japanese-green-tea-field-growing-matcha

The earliest appearance of tea in history comes from the Chinese anecdote of Shen Nong (Shennong, the founder of agriculture and Chinese medicine), who ate wildflowers and tea leaves. This legend suggests that tea was discovered around 2700 B.C., during the Shen Nong period. A medical book from the Han Dynasty (1st century B.C.), the