Tea produced in Nara prefecture is called Nara-Yamatocha. There are 4 main producing areas; Tsukigase, Tahara, Yagyu and Tsuge in the north in the Yamato kogen plateau located in the east in Nara city.
Nara-Yamatocha grown slowly to take advantage of the cool climate has characters of aroma and strong taste with sweetness and umami.
It is promoted to get the certification of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) in order to send Japanese tea having more and more demand overseas these days safely and surely.
Ideal environment for cultivation of tasty tea
The suitable cultivating areas of tea in Japan have these conditions like the annual average temperature of 14-16 degrees and the lowest temperature in winter of minus 5-6 degrees.
The average temperature in Nara prefecture is around 15 degrees every year. In some areas, it drops less than 0 degrees but even the lowest is minus 5-6 degrees. This means the climate in Nara is suitable for producing tasty tea.
It also has a big difference in temperature between day and night and enough precipitation. And soil rich in minerals grow tea leaves healthy. It has a reputation as nutritious and tasty tea.
Started the history of Nara-Yamatocha in 806
The history of Nara-Yamatocha has started in 806.
The first event is said that Kukai, the founder of Shingonshu that is one of the major sects of Buddhism, brought tea seeds back from Tang (China today) with his disciple Kenne and sowed them in Butsuryuji temple (Uda city in Nara prefecture).
In the 13th century, Eisai who was a monk of Rinzaishu, one of the major sects of Buddhism, spread a tea drinking custom in Japan.
It is said that a monk Eison offered tea with a big cup to people in Saidaiji temple where it had a tea garden at the time.
A traditional event “Ochamori (tea in a big tea cup)”derived from Eison’s offering tea is held twice a year (spring and autumn) every year.
“Yamatomidori” the only improved cultivar in Nara prefecture
Nara-Yamatocha has the only improved cultivar called “Yamatomidori” that was brought up from native variants in Nara prefecture. It was registered as a cultivar in 1953 but it is not popular so much because it is unproductive due to longer time to grow. Conversely, it is a rare value tea cultivar among Japanese tea.
Yamatomidori has the characters of beautiful deep green tea leaf and strong umami.
It is also called “natural Gyokuro” because it has the similar character to Gyokuro even though grown without covering cultivation.
Main cultivars in Nara-Yamatocha
Nara-Yamatocha is mainly produced in the Yamato kogen plateau located in the northwest in Nara prefecture.
The main producing areas are Nara city, Yamazoe village, Uda city, Oyodo town and Higashi-Yoshino village.
They have the same indication “Yamatocha”basically, though it sometimes differs depending on its producing area.
Main cultivars in Nara-Yamatocha
Yamatomidori Yabukita Okumidori Meiryoku