The Calendar of Tea Fields

Tea fields are spectacular sights regardless of season. During spring, vivid green, well-manicured rows of tea plants look beautiful with the sakura as a background. Warm summer weather signals for the peak of harvest. The autumn foliage provides a contrast between the hues of red and green, then as the winter chill sets in, one […]

What About Aracha?

If you search how to assess tea quality, one of the criteria you will find is a uniform, deep green colour and a consistent leaf size. However, are this criteria inclusive enough to appreciate the wonderful thing that is Aracha?   What is it? Also called “farmer’s tea”, “raw tea”, or just unrefined tea, Aracha is the result […]

Dessert Ideas: Matcha Truffles

Matcha truffles? Much has been already said about matcha’s numerous health benefits. If the antioxidant properties or caffeine dose is not enough to convince you to stock matcha powder in your pantry, then a persuasion through desserts is in order. Festive season is upon us and soon it will be time for fun gatherings together […]

Matcha Chia Pudding

Matcha Chia Pudding (serves one or two people) Increase the benefitsthat Matcha is provides by combining the green gold with another super food. In recent years chia seeds from South America have found their way in to the kitchens of numerous health conscious people. Enjoy it as a dessert to round off your meal or […]

A New approach to Japanese Tea and a Chai Latte Recipe

The first thought that comes to everybody’ s mind when hearing ‘Japanese tea’ is an emerald green tea, natural in its flavour and filled full of umami flavours. Here is big news for everyone that didn’t know: some Japanese Farmers also produce black tea, known as Wakocha. Japan, a great green tea producing nation, opened […]

Lahpet Thoke- A Tea Salad from Myanmar

At Obubu, we’re very fond of our tea experiments. Therefore, at every tea tour we all enjoy a beautiful Kabuse Sencha salad. Basically, after brewing Kabuse Sencha three times to extract all the bitterness- Kabuse is a perfect choice for a tea salad, since it is a shaded tea, resulting in softer, sweeter leaves- we […]

Keeping tea for a special moment?

Do you know these thoughts: “Should I have those chocolates? They were so expensive so let’s wait for a special occasion! Will it be a waste if I wear this dress on a normal work day or should I wait for a special event to come up? Should I open this bag of tea now? […]

Hand Picking and Rolling Autumn Sencha

Last week, we held our tri-annual tea picking and rolling event at Obubu to celebrate the beginning of the autumn harvest. The history of hand picking tea in Japan stretches back around 800 years to the Kamakura period, when tea seeds were first brought to the Kyoto prefecture from China. Traditionally, women would wear beautiful, […]

Kombucha for Japan

‘The tea of immortality’ – the name given to Kombucha back in ancient China during the Tsin dynasty (B.C. 211), although the origins have been lost in the mists of time. This name gives us an insight into the truly special qualities of this unique tea and its beneficial effects on the body. Various Kombucha creations made […]

The Best Japanese Iced Tea Recipe

Homemade iced tea is the perfect summer drink for those warm evenings in the garden, sharing with guests at barbecues or to accompany your lazy weekend brunch. Our recipe uses the cold brew method, achieved by steeping the tealeaves in cold water and leaving them overnight. This means that less catechins, which are responsible for the bitterness […]

Summer Sencha

Illuminated by the mangetsu, the beloved full moon, we made our way down to the factory to witness the processing of our final summer tea: the Sencha of the Summer Sun. We were welcomed by Akki-San, whose sun-baked face, bright eyes and mischievous smile revealed yet little of the extraordinary effort he (like many other […]

Tea in Fukushima, Then and Now…

Four years ago, Obubu traveled to Fukushima as part of a Caravan of Support for the victims of the April 11, 2011 earthquake that had rampaged the region. Wanting to help but feeling powerless in the middle of winter, Matsu-San and Akky-San brought their solidarity by way of tea. Over the course of 20 days, […]

First Shincha of the year

八十八夜  Hachijuhachiya is the 88th night since the beginning of spring, according to the traditional Japanese lunar calendar. It falls in the last days of April or first ones of May and it used to mark the start of harvesting shincha. Shincha 新茶 in Japanese literally means “new tea” and it refers to the new shoots picked and processed in early spring. Usually […]

Tournée à Taïwan - 18-21 février 2016

Du 18 au 21 février, l'équipe nationale d'Obubu, composée de Kayo, Momo et Youhei, a effectué un court voyage à Taiwan pour rencontrer les membres de notre Tea Club, visiter des salons de thé servant les thés Obubu et présenter les thés Obubu à d'éventuels partenaires commerciaux. Dès que les dispositions ont été prises, le plan a commencé à vaciller car un [...]

Spring in bloom, time for sweet sakura cha

The blossom of cherry trees is the national flower of Japan and a symbol of the country’s uniqueness. The custom of admiring cherry trees in bloom is said to have started during the Nara Period (710–794) when the elite of the Imperial Court followed the Chinese custom of ume (plum) blossoms instead. But by the […]

Genmaicha- and Hojicha Pasta

for 4 portions 3 cups (approximately 400 g) of plain flour 1 cup (approximately 250 ml) of water 3 tbsp of Genmaicha Powder (15g) salt 1. Mix the flour together with the Genmaicha-or Hojicha powder and add a pinch of salt. 2. While stiring, add water slowly 3. Knead the dough until you get a […]

How is Japanese sencha tea hand-processed?

After Akkisan, Obubu’s President and farmer took part in the 宇治茶製法手もみ技術大会 ‘Uji Tea Tea Rolling Competition’ and became 2nd together with the Wazuka Team it is time to explain a little more in detail about the hand- processing of Sencha. There are two ways delicious sencha is produced: a hand rolling process (temomi) and a […]

Tasseography- The spiritual side of Chagara

Have you asked yourself what the future brings ? Can you influence your destiny? Did you ever consider your life as being pre-determined ? Tea leaf reading, also called Tasseography, is a method of forcasting the future and learning more about your destiny, or fate, by examining the loose used tea leaves inside your cup. […]

Quick Intro to Japanese Tea Ceremony Utensils

The Tea Ceremony, or Chanoyu, is a Japanese cultural art as well as a philosophy and spiritual discipline. Chanoyu, literally translated, means “hot water for tea”. Today, tea ceremony is often referred to as chado or sado, meaning “the way of tea”. At first glance the tea ceremony may seem to be an overly formal […]

How to Store Tea Properly

Part of enjoying tea culture is the anticipation of opening a new packet of tea. With the opening of the seal, the delightful aroma is a delightful preface to the cup of tea you are about to enjoy. As we all have experienced, slowly over time, the opened loose tea seems to lose some of […]

REJUVENATE YOUR 5 BEAUTY WITH USED TEA LEAVES

Caring about our own beauty is somehow a part of human nature (I can’t help it too). Being well aware of this nature, beauty products are becoming increasingly expensive and maintaining our beauty seems to become a monetary challenge nowadays. Well, with numerous antioxidant properties, green tea leaves could be an economical relief to your […]

Fuel your day with green tea smoothies

‘-Once up- on a time on the planet of tea lovers and there happened to be a cup of fresh Japanese green tea that was, driven by curiosity, eager to widen its horizons with the aim of gaining deeper knowledge of the world of flavors. In order to get inspiration it decided to go on […]

6 Reasons Used Tea Leaves are Best Household Helper

In love with your cup of tea but don’t know what to do with loads of brewed tea leaves? Instead of disposing them, Japanese like to dry and re-use these tea leaves (also called chagara) in many ways, be it beauty care or household maintenance. Here’s how chagara can be used to enhance our household […]

Chagayu (Tea Porridge)

Recommended for those who follow a vegetarian/vegan diet or for someone who is ill:   Ingredients for 3-4 people Rice 150g/180ml (roughly rinsed) Water 540-720cc Bagged Houjicha 12g   Bring the water to a boil. Once boiled put Hojicha in, simmer it for a few minutes until the tea colour comes out. Then take out […]

How To Brew A Delicious Japanese Green Tea

Like A Meal Needs A Good Cook, Tea Needs A Good Brewer Unique, proud, generous. Japan is a nation that possesses a distinctive culture. Many people say that Japanese goods are perfectly made. While it is quite difficult to define perfection, since everyone has his or her own preferences, it is undeniable that the Japanese produce […]