Kawane Tea Day honoring Shizuoka's mountain tea

Today, and April 21st annually, is Kawane Tea Day in Japan. It arrives at the threshold of the new-tea season, when the fields in Shizuoka's mountains being to glow with fresh spring green. The date often coincides with shichiju-shichiya, the "77th night" after Risshun, a traditional market that signals the approach of the year's first harvest.

The Kawane Ocha Kaido Promotion Council established this April 21st anniversary to honor not only the tea of the region, but the community that has grown around it. The farmers, processors, and towns people who have shaped a culture of craftmanship in the Kawane region. Known for its high aroma and beautifully balanced sweetness and astringency, Kawane tea is nurtured by the blessings of the Oi River system.

While the anniversary is dedicated to Kawane Tea specifically, it is still a reminder of the value of green tea in Japan, and the abundance of green tea in Shizuoka Prefecture. Be sure to check out City-cost's Shizuoka Green Tea guide. Several of the City-cost contributors had the great honor to visit some tea fields in Shizuoka. The photo in this post is from one of those visits.  If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend taking a green tea tour in the prefecture.