Akira Hojo | HOJO Online Speciality Tea Shop- Part 14

[2016.04.09]

Black tea from the wild tea tree grown in a native forest

• Types of Tea
• Black Tea
• China
• Chinese Black Tea
• Yunnan

Since a few years ago, we have been introducing the wild black tea. Literally its name tells that it is produced from fresh tealeaf collected from the wild tea tree naturally grown in the mountain. In 2015, this tea was very popular. It was sold out much earlier than we expected. For us, managing the …

[2016.04.06]

HOJO original tailor-made tea from Yunnan

• Origin of Tea
• Black Tea
• China
• Chinese Black Tea
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• Ripe Pu-erh Tea
• White Tea
• Yunnan

In HOJO’s tea lineup, we have many teas produced in Yunnan Province of China. We are always interested in Yunnan tea because if we work very hard to search we are still able to find some natural farming tea gardens in Yunnan. The quality of tea collected from those natural farming gardens is outstanding; in …

[2016.04.01]

The latest situation of Yunnan tea in 2016

• Origin of Tea
• China
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• Yunnan

Since last week, I have been staying in Yunnan for sourcing 2016 Yunnan tea. After visiting a number of tea gardens and manufacturers, we can overview the situation of Yunnan tea in 2016. Weather in Yunnan Generally, the weather in China this year is relatively dry and cold compared to 2015. It is exactly the …

[2016.02.20]

Akitsu Mumyoi Clay from the Great Sado Mountain Range

• Teapot and Tea Equipment
• Japanese Teapot and Tea Equipment
• Mumyoi Clay Teapot
• Sado Red Clay Teapot

Red clay from A largest Gold Mine in Japan Sado Island is located in the middle of Japan ocean. It is in the north of Niigata city. As this island was formed by submarine volcano, the island has very rich amount of natural minerals. In particular, the gold and silver from Aikawa gold mine was …

[2016.02.11]

Development of lightly rolled Japanese green tea

• Types of Tea
• Green Tea
• Japan
• Japanese Green Tea
• Nara
• Sencha
• Tsukigase

Japanese green tea is less lasting in brewing Many people may find that the taste and flavor of Japanese green tea do not last over many infusions. The first infusion is strong and flavorful, but on third or even the second infusion, most of Japanese green tea tastes light and plain. Regardless of the brewing …

[2016.02.09]

High Mountain Silver Downy Raw Pu-erh Tea 2014

• New Arrival at HOJO Online Shop
• Types of Tea
• China
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Raw Pu-erh Tea
• What's New?
• Yunnan

Tea made from 1 bud and 1 leaf High Mountain Silver Downy 2014 is made of tea grown in natural farming style. This is a raw pu-erh tea, and as it is, this is a very unusual pu-erh tea. This is because the plucking standard of this tea is “1 bud and 1 leaf”. It …

[2016.01.21]

Calling shu pu-erh tea as cooked pu-erh tea is inappropriate

• Types of Tea
• China
• Fermented Tea
• Post Fermented Tea
• Pu-erh Tea and Dark Tea
• Ripe Pu-erh Tea
• Ripe Pu-erh Tea Processing
• Yunnan

We often came across customers called the Shu Pu-erh tea as “cooked pu-erh” instead of ripe pu-erh tea. Many people thought that the ripe pu-erh tea is made by cooking tea with direct heating. In fact, it is incorrect. Shu has a few different meanings The word in Chinese and also in Japanese used for …

[2016.01.15]

How long shall we brew tea on 2nd brewing?

• How to enjoy tea
• Brewing Time
• Tea Brewing Technque

I noticed that many people are not very certain about how long they should infuse tea for the 2nd brewing. Based on my observation, they tend to infuse 2nd brewing longer than the 1st brewing. Perhaps they thought it was necessary so as to extract the taste well. 2nd brewing must be kept short On …

[2015.12.12]

Rare white tea from Ma An Shan

• New Arrival at HOJO Online Shop
• Types of Tea
• China
• What's New?
• White Tea
• White Tea Processing
• Yunnan

We produced white tea using the material from Ma An Shan. This is one of the best sources of tea which gives extraordinarily strong body and aftertaste. Ma An Shan white tea gives very long lasting finishing and sweetish aftertaste. This is one of the exquisite white teas in our lineup. Tea from above 2000m …

[2015.11.26]

Rain during harvest season of tea is not welcomed

• How to choose quality tea
• Environmental factors
• Factors that affects tea quality
• Weather and Climate

Quality of tea varies every year because of weather and climate. It is just like wine. In particular, the rain condition has a vast effect on the quality of tea. The quality of tea drops when there is a lot of rain during harvest season. Agricultural product harvested on rainy day gives very light and …