Tea picking experience
The season for new tea is 88 nights of approaching summer from Feb/04, the day when spring begins according to the lunar calendar.
In other words, it is around GW in May.
I experienced picking tea for the first time in my life, and I was so excited!!
This time we visited Kuraya Narusawa, which is located near the famous Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace, a World Heritage Site.
When the weather is nice, you can even see Mt. Fuji while picking!
The tea picking experience is a 60-minute process.
The procedure is like this. Easy and comfortable with the help of a staff member.
(1) Change into a tea-picking outfit (about 15 minutes)
(2) Walk up the slope to the tea plantation (about 3 minutes)
(3) After listening to a brief explanation, it is time to pick tea! (15-20 minutes)
(4) Change costumes and go to the product center (15 minutes) *You can taste and shop for tea at the center.
Change into a tea-picking costume
This is what the changing area looks like. Each table has enough costumes for the number of people.
There are also costumes for children. I heard that men also wear the same costumes (;^_^A
I had a little trouble with the obi, but it was more difficult to wear a tasuki which prevents sleeves from hanging down, so I asked for some help.
Costume is perfect! Are they? Let’s go to the tea plantation!
We didn’t realize it at this point, but as we climbed the hill, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a big sky and tea fields before our eyes.
It was a beautiful day for tea picking, but Mt. Fuji was hidden behind clouds… Too bad…
Actually plucked tea leaves!
The staff explained that one core and two leaves (a new leaf at the tip that has not yet opened and the two leaves below it) are to be picked.
I heard that the fermentation of tea leaves already starts when they are picked. I was surprised. Σ(ﾟДﾟ)
I chewed one of the tea leaves, even though I thought it was a bit unbecoming.
But it did not taste like tea in particular (;^_^A It tasted like leaves.
Making green tea with the tea leaves I picked
A staff gave us instructions on how to make oolong tea and hojicha.
So I made some green tea referring to the internet! I love microwave. (;^_^A
Repeat the process of microwaving and rubbing the tea leaves several time. Thinning the leaves was more difficult than I imagined.
As you can tell it looks far from the green tea on the market. But the aroma was like Japanese tea.
I poured hot water(approx. 80 deg.) and made some tea! Hmmm … Well, it was tasty in its own way (;^_^A
Summary
As you can see from my face in the photo, picking tea in the great outdoors is super fun!
A hand towel and a sachet of green tea are included as a souvenir.
We hope you will all come out and try this!
<Period for experience> (*Please inquire at the facility for details)
Spring From mid-April to the end of June
Autumn From mid-September to the end of October
On this one-day drive to Izu, in addition to the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace and tea picking, we stopped at Kakita River Park with its clear stream, Ganjojyuin Temple, which is associated with the Hojo clan, and Mishima Taisha Shrine, where Minamoto Yoritomo prayed for the revival of the Genji clan.