Category Archives: Tea

Marufuku Seicha, Potage, Shizuoka City, Tea, TEa Potage

Japanese Tea X Potage=”Pochage” by Marufuku Seicha in Shizuoka City!

October 14, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Marufuku Seicha Co. and her young President, Ms. Asami Ito, have always been endeavoring to create new products from Shizuooka tea to explore new expansion avenues.
Their latest venture is a happy marriage between Japanese and French gastronomies: “Pochage”!
“Pochage” stands for Potage and Tea, the latter being pronounced “cha” in Japanese!

I was given the opportunity to taste it/them and here are my findings!

The packaging follows the strict norms of Japanese food regulations with all the data on ingredients, processing and consumption dates, which are aso repeated on each potage pouch!

You can buy each pouch individually or in packs of 6, 3 of each variety as above.
The packaging design makes for a great souvenir/present!

Inside this particular package you will find one more leaflet bearing all information on the tea company, its fields, and even 3 “rings” to attach to your soup cup to know exactly what is inside!

Three different pouches, extremely resistant but easy to open!
Now let me turn to each content and the actual tasting!

Shizuoka Tea and potato potage!
The powder has a nice color to it and its flavor, even when dry, is of strong green tea.
Each pouch content contains enough powder to which 150ml of hot water can be added.
Note: pour in the water half at a time and mix well for perfect solving before tasting it.

The soup is of a rich, slightly dark, green typical of green tea leaves.
The taste although markedly of tea is not as pronounced as its flavor and the potatoes blend perfectly with the bitterness of the tea.
It does not need any extra seasoning, although I would recommend serving it topped with some crumbled dry potato chips!
Great in the morning with breakfast!

The second one is Hojicha and mushrooms potage!
Hojicha is dry grilled green tea, whose color will change to a nice yellow-brown. The addition of mushroom powder will result into a rich brown color.
The aroma is more discreet that the Shizuoka Tea and potato, but still rich enough.

The taste is smooth and definitely dominated by mushrooms, but in a very balanced manner.
Again there is no need for extra seasoning, but I would serve it topped with a few fried pieces of mushroom.
Will warm you up in winter!

The third one is matcha tea and corn!
The matcha aroma dominates the powder with its distinctive characters.

The corn perfectly balances the bitterness of the matcha into a very elegant and rich potage.
It definitely could be served chilled into a refined vychissoise.
Serve it topped with a few grains of boiled corn and tiny green sprouts!

All in all, a discovery!
The concept is somewhat feminine but gentlemen will surely appreciate the balance between green tea and other ingredients.
Enjoy!

MARUFUKU SEICHA/丸福製茶株式会社

420-0006 Shizuoka City, Aoi KU, Wakamatsu Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
<strong>HOMEPAGE (Japanese & English)

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Green Tea, Japanese Gastronomy, Tea

Japanese Tea Sommelier in Japan: Florent Weugue

October 10, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Florent Weugue Japanese Tea Instructor, a resident in Japan since 2005, was the first French national to be certified “Nihoncha (Japanese tea) Instructor” in Japan.

Do visit his splendid blog at JAPANESE TEA SOMMELIER

Working in Japanese tea business since 2009, he is now in charge of the research and selection of teas and accessories for Thes-du-Japon online shop.
He wants to share authentic Japanese teas, from single estate, providing informations on producing areas, cultivar, producers, etc. He also wants to share correct knowledge about Japanese tea.

His English blog and French blog are the reference sites for a true study and knowledge of Japanese Tea that anyone seriously wishing to challenge!

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Japanese Tea Sommelier by Florent Weugue
So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Shizuoka, Tea, Tea Harvest

First Harvest in a brand new Tea Field in Shizuoka with Marufuku Tea Company!

May 10, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん, the young owner/manager of Marufuku Tea Comppany/丸福製茶株式会社 in Shizuoka City had been experimenting with organic tea for quite some time with her late father Bunji/伊藤文治さん.
Yesterday I was invited to the first picking/Ichiban Cha ever in a new field she had developed in view to produce more organic tea.

Asami with a friend and one of her veteran employees!

For this special occasion she had invited many of her close friends for this first ever harvest in her new field!

The new field is located in high altitude, about 600 meters, along the River Abe in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hirano/静岡市葵区平野 in a field called Ogi Hatake/扇畑!

Even at this high altitude the fields have to be constantly protected from the damage caused by wild boars, deer and what else!

When I arrived at 9:00 some people already busy hand-picking the tea sunder the supervision of Japan Agriculture Department inspector!

Asami does not like things being half done!
When devising her new field she also had a wooden house built for tea harvest storage and even modern toilets on top of water and electricity!

Plenty of space for a car park, too!

Firewood for the colder season when fields have to be cleaned and tended!

Some of the morning harvest when I arrived!

Asami had planted some rosemary along the tea fields as she intends to market a scented tea in the future!

The part of tea field where I was going to contribute to the harvesting!

Can you see the new leaves on the trees!

Each new leaves have to be selected with eye and touch before being twisted out (not pinched out) by hand!

Tea leaves in my own basket!

An employee came regularly among us to receive individual harvests!

It was a hot day even in the morning at this high altitude!

Two more employees were tallying the crop safely stored away from the sun inside the shed!

The forty of us had harvested no less than 100 kg by noon!

In the evening I received good news from an e-mail sent by Asami:
Apparently the tea has been judged of high quality and will be submitted to a National Judge Panel!

Asami is convinced this is the fruit of the friendship of all the people who turned up to participate to this first ever crop!

Marufuku Tea Factory (Owner: Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Shizuoka, Tea, Tea Auctions

GREEN TEA: SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE TEA FIRST AUCTIONS IN 2014 IN SHIZUOKA CITY!

April 23, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again like every year with this most important event Tea growers are early-risers!
Since Marufuku Tea Factory (Shizuoka City) in the person of Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻美 had again kindly invited me to attend and interview at the official first day of the new tea auctions (officially) held today (April 23rd) I found myself the only European (journalist) present at the early hour of 6:30 a.m.!

Like every year too the event is held at the Shizuoka Tea Market Center in Tamachi, SAoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

“Cha Musume” were i\on hand to serve the new tea of the year, most of it from the Shimada and Makihara regions as these produce the first tea of the year due to their comparatively low altitude!

Some producers took advantage of the event to sell their vegetables and other products!

A tea massage demonstration was also held outside!

As usual this was the day for plenty of speeches in front the TV and newspaper reporters!

Mr. Fumiyaki Ichikawa of Marufuku Tea Factory was also present to buy some tea!

The “bigwigs” who also had some problems with the early hour!

Shizuoka Prefecture Governor, Heita Kawakatsu/川勝平太静岡県知事!

Shizuoka City Mayor, Nobuhiro Tanabe/田辺信宏静岡市長!

And then the participants were soon haggling prices!

Making offers or taking notes?

Note that the auctioneers are still using traditional abacuses!

Some of these teas were pretty steep!

18,000 yen for 3 kg!

But this particular tea was the record for the day!

100,000 yen for 4.5 kg of hand-massaged Yabukita tea!

Note: Shizuoka tea is not only absolutely safe, it is of very high quality this year!!
Next report will be in the tea-fields picking up the Ichiban Cha (First leaves of the year)!

Marufuku Tea Factory (Owner: Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Festivals, Kanaya, Tea

Kanaya Tea Festival 2014

April 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Kanaya Tea Festival is the more important for being held only every two years!
It is held on the second week end of April for two days, meaning that the ladies and girls of the whole town parade no less than 4 times during that time!

I arrived at Kanaya Station on Sunday and altough the parade is held a bit away from it you knew what was going on!

The welcoming committee!

Our bunch of 7 visitors, including 6 expats, was duly invited to pose with the welcoming party for the official photo album!

All ladies from the town participated to the whole festival!

As for the little ones, they did need some help!

A small dance party of cha musume was on show in front of the Station all day!

No less than three generations!

Participants, especially adults, were busy with preparations of the floats for the evening. Unfortunately Shizuoka City is quite a long way and I couldn’t stay at night… Probably for the best as I would have had to stay overnight with all that drinking going on! LOL

Busy, busy, busy!

Fixing the lanterns to light up the night!

Last practice!

Well, these hadn’t waited to practice drinking!

And those veterans definitely enjoyed the respite!

All under the watchful eyes of the organizers?

Cha Musume Pageant!

Alright, ladies! Get ready!

Let me help with those knots!

So cute!

Not the way the dancers were carrying their belongings!

Over 1,000 dancers all set!

during that time onlookers were busy feeding themselves! Takoyaki!

Okonomiyaki!

Tea leaves massage!!

Professional demonstration!

Dance step 1?

Dance step 2?

Dance step 3?

One little cha musume forgot to turn around!

Dance step 4?

Dance step 6?

Never too young to start!

In two years time these little girls will be veterans!

My favorite dancer of the day!

And I left to the sound of two strong lady drummers!

In two years time I’ll make sure to stay there all nigh!

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Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Tea, Wagashi

Shizuoka Green Tea & Wagashi Cake at Shizuoka JR Station: KIssa Issa Tea Cafe!

March 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Extremely kind and hospitable
Facilities and Equipment: Spotless clean. Entirely non-smiking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of green tea from Shizuoka City only on sale. Choice of three different teas offered every week. Local wagashi cakes!

4 years ago, in June exactly, Shizuoka JR Station was completely renovated and the basement linking the city to the north exit saw the birth of some very interesting shops!
If you arrive directly at Shizuoka JR Station take the stairs down and you will find Kissa Issa Tea cafe on your left. You will find it on your right if you reach the station from the basement passageway!

You are graciously invited to taste Shizuoka City Green Tea!
This cute little cafe was the idea behind a collaboration project between the Shizuoka City Tea Growers Association and the Municipal Government of Shizuoka City!

A great range of green tea bags, regularly changed, for a very reasonable price!
Bear in mind that Shizuoka Prefecture produces more than 45% of all green tea in Japan and that Shizuoka City is one of the main growing areas!

The whole list of Green Tea Growers and Companies in Shizuoka City!

You can also buy take-out hot green tea (but consume it on site. This is not Starbucks!)!

Green is the color of tea!
Closed on Wednesdays only, but always open on week-ends and National Holidays for the pleasure of the many visitors!

Smokers, keep out if you please!

More green teas on sale inside! The tea on offer is regularly changed to enable the sale of all the Shizuoka City green tea!

The Tea Cafe! A great place for a break between two trains or a rendez-vous with a special one!

Great staff! Local, smiling and so attentive!

The menu!

Written in Japanese, but the staff will try their best to explain it!

The three teas proposed on the menu every week are also displayed for purchase near the cash register!

There were two different Japanese wagashi cakes available made by Friand Kadoya, a top-class wagashi shop in Inagawa Cho, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, just south of the JR Station!
The one I chose is a kinton and sweetmeat/anko cake named Na no Hana/rapeseed flower!

And the tea I chose was a Tamachi No Aji Ichiban (made with first tea crop leaves)!

My set!
The staff prepare the first cup of tea and serve a pot of water for the next cups!

The first cup of green tea!

The brown pot contains enough hot water for the second and third cups of tea.
For the second cup of tea you pour hot water into the green pot first and then into the small tea pot filled with leaves.
This way your tea will be at the right temperature.
As for the third cup you pour directly the hot water from the brown pot into the small tea pot as the temperature will just right inside the brown pot by then!

The wagshi cake, a little jewel!

It is supposed to represent the shape of rape seed flowers!

Filled with sweetmeat!
And it’s vegan!
Made by Friand Kadoya (see below for details!)!

KISSA ISSA/一茶
Shizuoka JR Station, North Exit, Basement Square
Tel.: 054-253-0030
Opening hours: 10:00~19:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Entirely non-smoking!

FRIAND KADOYA Western and Wagashi Cakes
422-8062 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Inagawa, 1-2-29
Tel.: 054-285-6860
Fax: 054-284-7037
Opening hours: 09:00~19:00
Closed on Mondays and some holidays in January and August

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Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Kanaya, Shizuoka, Tea, Tourism

Kanaya Green Tea Festival (April 12th~13th)!

March 19, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

On April 12th (Saturday) and 13th (Sunday) a festival dear to all lovers of green tea in Shizuoka Prefecture will be held in Kanaya, Shimada City! The Kanaya Green Tea Festival!
Posters can already be seen in most of the railway stations in the Prefecture!

The poster inside Shizuoka JR Station!

this festival is held only 2 years, so don’t miss it!
As for the access ride the Tokaido Railway Line and get down at Kanaya Station.
People coming for afar can take the Shinkansen until Kakegawa Station or Shizuoka Station first and then board a Tokaido Railway train.

The Festival also include festival chariots and Japanese drums!
These will be held between 15:45 and 21:00!

Don’t miss the tea girls dance!

The tea girls dance will be held between 13:15 and 14:45 by thousands of them!
It will be held 400 meters away from Kanaya Station, but I will check!

And try to find the time to visit the Tea Museum/Cha no Sato in Kanaya</strong>!

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Green Tea Kanaya Shizuoka Tourism

Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 茶, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Strawberries, Tea, Tourism

French Dessert with Local Shizuoka Ingredients by Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City!

May 9, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Highly professional and friendly
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable~appropriate
Strong points: Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables, top-class Shizuoka-bred meat and Suruga Bay seafood. Seasonal food only.

Map (Japanese)

Last Monday I had to visit Tetsuya Sugimoto, one of the very top French Restaurants in the whole Prefecture after lunch to talk with Tetsuya about white asparagus producers in Shizuoka (there is one!).
Having already eaten lunch, I nonetheless could not resist asking for a light dessert with my coffee as we conducted our talks!

The cake was a mousse made with Hon Yama tea grown along the Abe and Warashina Rivers in Shizuoka City laying over light Genoise biscuit/short cake!

The ice cream/sorbet was created with organic Akihime Strawberries from Shizen no Chikara farm in Shizuoka City!
Incidentally all sugar comes from sugar canes grown in Kakegawa City!

A delicious and extravagant dessert in its simplicity!
The perfect dessert for slim-conscious ladies!
Even a chauvinistic male like me loved it!

To be followed…

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
４２０－００３８ Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,２－１３，１Ｆ
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours：１１：３０～１４：３０，１７：３０～２１：３０
Holidays: undecided
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE(Japanese)

Entirely non-smoking!

レシピ Cakes 美食 Dessert 静岡 French Gastronomy French Restaurants Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Ice cream Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Recipes Restaurants Shizuoka City World Cuisines

Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 茶, 観光, 農業, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Green Tea, Ice Cream, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tea, Tourism

Green Tea Cakes & Ice Creams at Nanaya by Shizuoka Macha Sweets Factory!

February 17, 2012 dragonlife 13 Comments

Macha Level 8 Ice cream!

Nanaya Shizuoka Macha Sweets Factory is produced by Marushichi Tea Factory in Fujieda City.
They own two shops, one in Fujieda City and the other in Shizuoka City!
This report is about the Shizuoka Shop!

You can’t miss it on Aoba Kouen Street! It’s all green (Tea green of course!)!

“Marushichi/Round Seven/丸七”. The number “7” is considered as the luckiest number in Japan, and Maru stands for the circle found around the number!
The number “7” can also be pronounced “nana”, hence the name of the shops!

The green color of macha powder must be one of the most beautiful green hues in this world!

All the macha powder used in their cakes and ice creams is exclusively made from green tea grown in Okabe Cho, Fujieda City!

They even offer choux a la creme/”chou ceam” with macha custard inside!

A superbly clean shop!

They also offer all kinds of healthy products by Ichinose!

Don’t forget to take a good look at their commercial film on the TV screen! You’ll learn a lot!

What did I tell you?

They also sell beautiful earthenware tea cups!

Have a good look at their healthy cakes!

But naturally I was mainly attracted by the ice creams which can be savored on site!

Ice cream must be the most forgivable sin in the whole world!

The macha ice creams from level 1 to 8, according to their content in pure macha powder!

You are welcome to enjoy your ice cream at ease on a chair on site! You are even provided with wet paper napkins!

And here was my choice: Macha Cone Level 8, of course!
That deep green color is going to make a lot of friends envious! LOL

NANAYA Shizuoka Shop
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae Cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-7783
Opening hours: 11:00~19:00
Closed on Wednesdays 8except on national Holidays)

NANAYA Fujieda Shop
Fujieda City, Naisetosaka Shimo, 141-1
Tel.: 054-646-7783
Opening hours: 10:00~18:00
Closed on Wednesdays (except on National Holidays)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese but look at the pictures!)
STAFF’S BLOG (Japanese, too, but look at the pictures!)

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My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Agriculture Asian Cakes 簡単なレシピ Desserts 静岡 Gastronomy Gourmet Green Tea Green Tea Desserts Ice cream Japan Japanese Japanese Gastronomy Shizuoka Tea World Cuisines

美食, 野菜, 茶, 観光, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tea, Tourism

Organic Tea First Harvest with Marufuku Tea Factory!

May 31, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Bunji and Asami Itoh! 伊藤文治さん,麻実さん！

This year’s green tea in Shizuoka, although of high quality, grew very slowly due to an unusually cold winter and spring, but I finally had the pleasure to experience my first ichiban (first of the year) green tea picking!

We drove all the way along off the beaten tracks thoroughfares just wide enough for a mini car up to an altitude of 8oo meters in Hirano along the Abe River and not far from the famous wasabi fields of Utogi.

Some tea fields can be found on steeper slopes, but this was already pretty steep!

Mr. Bunji Itoh has been growing exclusively organic green tea on these particular slopes for some time and plans to expand these fields. You know that no chemicals are used when you discover the luxuriant moss on the path!

The first leaves were just long enough to be picked!

These are the most valuable tea leaves of the year!

When you pick them by hand you twist off the stems just under the second leaf. If it does not snap between your thumb and index, cut the stem just under the first leaves!

This was my personal harvest in my hip tea basket with some wild mountain vegetables found around the rows!

These leaves are exceptionally delicious as tempura (Pissenlit Restaurant in Shizuoka City!)!

While I was picking some of the best leaves by hand Mr. Itoh’s employees were “shaving” the rows with curved cutting machines like this one. That is the reason behind the peculiar shape of Japanese tea tree rows!

You have to work in teams of three as one has to hold the bag for the leaves being cut by the other two holding the cutter walking between the rows!

Tea trees rows have to be “shaved” in two steps, along the left and then back along the right!

They let me help with (only) one row. Not easy work as you have to walk backwards. I didn’t too badly as they let me do it until the end of the (long) row!

On the way back Mr. Itoh showed me the house of Oomura Family which has been growing tea there since the Edo Era!

They have grown green tea in this same spot for hundreds of years!

Finding ourselves brought back in time!

Very valuable carps up in the mountains!

The whole (privately-owned) property has been registered as Cultural Asset!

Mr. Itoh finally took me to a local tea-processing factory he is contracted with to show me how these organic leaves are treated, not so much as for tea, but as edible organic tea leaves.
The fresh leaves are first steamed.

They are then dried.

And next they will be frozen to be sold to restaurants!

Mr. Itoh also has a field of organic of Japanese plum trees. I will go there soon to pick ume/plums to make umeshu!

Marufuku Seishya Co. Ltd. (Mr. Bunji Itoh)
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

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Green Tea: Shizuoka First Auctions in 2011

April 25, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Tea growers are early-risers!
Since Marufuku Tea Factory (Shizuoka City) in the person of Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻美 had kindly invited me to attend and interview at the official first day of the new tea auctions (officially) held today (April 25th) I found myself the only European (journalist) present at the early hour of 6:30 a.m.!

The event was held at the simply named Shizuoka Tea Building whose premises, inside and outside, were already crowded to the limit!

More than a participant was glad to buy and grab some breakfast/brunch (Japanese-style!)!

Another even bigger project called CHA 88 (coming report!) took the opportunity to advertise itself!

This event held by the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture was inaugurated on the 23rd!

One could enjoy the sight and demonstration of tea massage by an expert!

As a special guest I was wearing a cap with Marufuku Tea Factory written on it (the only journalist offered the privilege that day!)!

All the names of the union member tea companies for an easy check!

A map describing the diffrent tea producing regions of Shizuoka Prefecture!

And plenty of explanations on the different tea varieties!

The official “tea Ladies” of the day! Pretty, aren’t they?

Even the “big guns” had come early: Shizuoka Governor Kawakatsu!

And the new 49-year old Shizuoka City Mayor Tanabe!

This was before the “official speeches”. People got very serious then!

As for the press, TV and other journalists, this was open war! I can’t say I was impressed with their manners… And people think that the Japanese are the epitome of politeness…

The auction room was divided into regions/territories (in Japanese parlance!) for good order!

Now for real business:
The blue caps are for individual sellers, the yellow ones for buyers and the green ones for the JA and other big government-controlled farm cooperatives.

Hard bargaining!

Checking the samples and their price tags!

A sample of fairly good tea.

17,000 yen a kg. Quite high for a cooperative in Fuji City!

All transactioins and bargaining done with old-fashioned abacus/”soroban” in Japanese. A very practical system, actually!

Marufuku Tea Factory’s Tea Master seemed pretty happy with business!

There are some great pictures to be taken at such an event!

Note: This year’s tea is of a very good standard as opposite to last year’s disappointing crops!

Next report will be in the tea-fields picking up the Ichiban Cha (First leaves of the year)!

Marufuku Tea Factory
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

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