A taste of Shizuoka in your own kitchen

I like drinking tea. I am a coffee person at heart; when I need to do anything during the day, like move or breathe, coffee is the way to do it. But there are times during the day when everything comes crashing down and you just need to sit back on the futon, turn off the lights and have a cup of tea. These moments are easy to forget, but are extremely important. Relaxing is a must and tea is the solution.

In the old country, tea is anything but a culture. If you admit that you are a tea drinker in any sense you'll be laughed out of town! Tea is mostly for high-class snobs who have nothing better to do with the day than drink tea and make silly financial decisions.

After coming to Japan, my tea drinking habits were considered beginner level at best. I was (and still am) a casual drinker compared to some of the natives here who drink tea in lieu of, well, anything. Even water!

My favorite types of tea are the local variety. The teas that are advertised as being from a special place somewhere inside Japan. I have tried teas from Uji, Mie, Kumamoto and many other places, and I have collected a veritable smorgasbord of teas in my kitchen. And since I have just moved and have most of my belongings (including my tea collection) deep inside boxes, I think today is a perfect time to search for Shizuoka tea in my kitchen.

Will I find tea from the most popular tea producer in Japan? Have I drank it all and n left the remnants as slim pickings? Let's find out!

When I first open the box, I am greeted at once by one of my favorite teas from Shizuoka, 一番摘み. I know it's from Life, not one of your fancy packaging, but I like it. It tastes really nice and I have it at least twice a week.

The other one I was actually given by someone a long time ago. It's a 緑香 which I have had for a long time, but never actually tried. I will eventually. After we properly move in.

I only have a small part of the teas from Shizuoka in my collection. I am planning to get more and compare them later. It's one of the mini-adventures that happen in Japan, a country that has so many products and so many opportunities for trying new things. I cannot wait for the next one.

This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.