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Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.
Fujikawachi Tea Garden produces 90% of the tea in Yamaguchi Prefecture! The endless tea fields are
Fujikawachi Tea Farm is a tea field that spreads across the Ono area in the northern part of Ube City. This tea farm is located on a small hill that was created by clearing the mountainous area. It is the largest in a single area in western Japan, and you will be overwhelmed by its vastness when you see it with your own eyes. The green ridges sparkling in the sunlight are like the ancient Japanese pattern of "seigaiha," making for an impressive sight. There is also a tea processing factory just down the mountain, and this farm has the great advantage of being able to process large quantities of picked tea leaves at once while they are still fresh.
On this day, we had a tasting session in the midst of this magnificent scenery. The tea had a unique bitterness and a green aroma. It was not the sweet tea that is popular these days, but the astringent Japanese tea that has been enjoyed for a long time. I discovered that this classic taste had come full circle and brought about a new sensation.
Ube is famous for tea. After hearing about this, I decided to go to Ube, the city of tea, to experience it for myself. I was so happy that the weather was clear from the morning.
Fujikawachi Tea Farm in the Ono district of Ube City is the largest tea plantation in Western Japan. In the fields where the first crop of tea was harvested in May, the second crop of tea has begun to grow and be harvested.
They set up an impromptu cafe tasting space next to the tea fields.
The tea from this region is made using the "light steaming" method, which allows you to enjoy the traditional bitter and sweet flavor of tea. The green color is deep and beautiful.
The new tea harvested in May is already packaged as a product. Fujikawachi Tea Farm has a tea factory right next door, so the tea picked while still fresh can be processed.
Fujikawachi's shared factory. It is efficient because it can process large quantities. The field and factory are located close to each other, so it has the advantage of being able to process the fruit before it oxidizes.
In today's world, convenience is also important. Small packs are also popular as gifts. Because it is a luxury item, various products have been created to adapt to the age of diversity.
One of them is "Yumehanacha", a flavored tea made from green tea from Yamaguchi Prefecture scented with herbs and flowers. The aroma of lemon and berries spreads in your mouth, making it easy to drink and refreshing. It will change your concept of Japanese tea.
I was overwhelmed by the vastness of the tea plantation... I had no idea there was a place like this in Yamaguchi. It was a magnificent 360-degree view.
100 million units sold! The Ono Tea flavor of "Eggs Found on the Moon" is creamy and loved by people of all ages and genders.
After returning from Fujikawachi Tea Farm, we headed straight for "Kakonoki" run by Asahi Confectionery.
Ube Farm Store. Founded in the Taisho era, this company makes a variety of sweets, from Japanese to Western sweets. It is a confectionery manufacturer representing Yamaguchi Prefecture, with 44 stores in the prefecture.
The Kakonoki Ube Farm store has both a sales floor and a cafe, so you can enjoy the sweets you purchase at the store with tea at the cafe.
Asahi Seika's most popular product, "Tsukitama," is a soft, dome-shaped castella cake. It's a huge bestseller, with over 100 million units sold by 2010. It's steamed using the delicious water "Yanai no Kotonami Water," so it's smooth and satisfying to eat.
"Eggs Found on the Moon, Ono Tea Flavor" is a popular product that incorporates tea. The tea used in the dough and cream is truly alive! Adding red beans to the mix creates an exquisite balance of Japanese and Western collaboration.
"Tsukitama," which uses tea produced in Ube, is a perfect souvenir from Ube.
To learn more about the charms of Ube tea... After returning to the center of Ube city, we headed to "Kakonoki Ube Farm Store," a shop that makes Yamaguchi's famous sweets using tea. From the entrance, there is a vegetable garden and a herb garden.
This cafe is run by Asahi Seika, the maker of "Eggs Found on the Moon," a flavor loved by people of all ages and genders.
The cafe serves lunch menus and sweets, and you can also eat products purchased at the store. I bought the popular "Eggs Found on the Moon" Ono Tea flavor!
Enjoy a seat by the window with herbal tea made with freshly picked herbs.
The herbal tea, which changes with the seasons, has a refreshing taste made with seven kinds of fresh herbs. The refreshing flavors of lemongrass, mint, geranium, etc. are harmoniously combined to soothe both the body and mind.
It has a cute, round shape and is made of moist castella cake filled with cream.
The "Tsuki de yukutta tamago (plain egg)" contains custard cream and Japanese chestnuts. The Ono tea flavor uses Ono tea in both the batter and cream, and has red beans in the center. It's a sweet that allows you to enjoy the flavors of Japanese and Western cuisine and the aroma of tea.
We want to convey all the charms of tea. This year, we opened the Japanese Tea Garden Cafe "Chashu Tenchi".
Heading to tea-related spots, we took a train trip on the Ube Line, heading for the sea at Giwa Station.
When I visited, I visited Chaso Ametuchi, a new restaurant that had only been open for a month.
Located right next to Kiwa La Beach, this tea cafe was renovated from a home. The tea lineup includes not only Japanese tea but also other Asian teas, all of which have been personally selected by the owner, Kenya Hiranaka. They also offer original blended teas, and the wide variety and attention to detail will satisfy even the most tea-loving of tea lovers.
Mr. Hiranaka has experienced the healing power of tea himself, and is like an evangelist who conveys the power and charm of tea. During your stay here, the atmosphere and conversation you experience through tea are so warm that you will lose track of time.
After enjoying the Ube tea, we left the seaside cafe feeling satisfied.
As evening approached, we visited one more tea house, then took the Ube Line to the sea.
From Ube-Shinkawa Station to Giwa Station. On the way, the Seto Inland Sea came into view from the train window.
From Kiwa Station, walk towards Kiwa-la Beach.
The tide had gone out from the beach, and the ocean was far away. It is said that the coastlines of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi have particularly large tidal ranges in the Seto Inland Sea. I see, this is exactly what happened.
I had heard that Kiwa La Beach had good water quality and calm seas, but on this day it was low tide and the beach had turned into a scorching desert... So I immediately went to Chashu Tenchi, a new tea spot in Ube.
Chaso Tenchi is a Japanese tea garden cafe that just opened this year. It is located on a hill along the beach, and offers a panoramic view of the sea and gardens.
It was as hot as midsummer that day, so the cold roasted green tea I had as soon as I sat down was delicious...
Once the sweat has subsided, we enjoy the world of tea while listening to the talk. We have exquisitely cooked Dainagon rice and Hagoromo Monaka from the local confectionery shop Wakasaya.
This tea cafe is run by Mr. Hiranaka, a former school teacher, and his wife. He purchases all of the tea he sells himself, and the menu includes not only Japanese tea, but also Taiwanese oolong tea and Korean corn tea.
Hiranaka says he became interested in tea after he became ill. While helping with tea making in Kumamoto, he realized that tea has a healing effect on his body and mind.
He renovated the second floor of his house and opened a tea cafe, which became popular from the moment it opened.
Orders come in one after the other, but it seems like each cup is carefully brewed. With the ocean breeze blowing through the shop, even the waiting time can be enjoyed at your leisure.
I ordered Ono tea. Not only can you have the first brew, but you can also have the second brew by adding more hot water, so it's a great cafe where you can have a relaxed conversation with friends. I came alone, though.
Since we were there, they also made us some matcha tea. This is matcha from Yame Hoshinomura in Fukuoka. You can taste the sweetness and greenness of the tea in the bitterness.
I wanted to spend more time here, but unfortunately my train was running late. I had a feeling that this place might become a mecca for Ube tea.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
