Tea Auctions | SHIZUOKA GOURMET

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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