Understanding Japanese Green Tea. JAPAN TRIP

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  • Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
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    In this video, we give you the lowdown on all the different types of Japanese Green teas from Sencha and Bancha all the way to the lofty Gyokuro.
    After watching us exploring the farms and producers of Japan you will know all the basics of Japanese tea and will decipher a tea menu with ease.
    ★ A short table of contents to help you navigate through the video
    0:46 - Sencha
    1:05 - Bancha
    1:30 - Kabusecha
    1:57 - Gyokuro
    6:11 - Tasting different grades of Gyokuro
    11:31 - Okumidori Gyokuro plantation - different types of shading
    14:03 - First processing stages - factory visit
    15:11 - Green tea control room
    18:20 - Pesticides in Japanese green teas
    20:05 - Makinohara in Shizuoka - Fukamushi style
    23:05 - Different styles of Japanese tea plucking
    25:01 - Inside the factory - refining steps of tea processing
    29:12 - Summary, current problems in Japanese tea market and outlook
    ★ To taste the tea sourced in the video:
    Kanaya Midori Sencha: meileaf.com/p/tea-kmsc
    Okumidori Gyokuro: meileaf.com/p/tea-gyuc
    Uji Hikari Matcha: meileaf.com/p/tea-hmmc
    Genmai Matcha: meileaf.com/p/tea-gmmc
    Houjicha: meileaf.com/p/tea-hjcc
    Japanese Green teas are quite rightly revered worldwide as some of the best teas on Earth. They are very different from Chinese Greens and it has reflections in the differences in the two cultures.
    (Find out more about the differences between Japanese & Chinese Green tea - • Japanese vs. Chinese G... )
    Artisan Chinese tea is all about individual craftsmanship and a hundred different ways to make a tea whereas in Japan they have raised the overall quality level through standardisation and exacting control over every process. Interestingly, tea made in Taiwan seems to blend the two approaches!
    The use of technology and a production line approach to maintain efficiency and reduce unwanted variability is something which the Japanese are famous for and it certainly produces tea which is crafted to fit an exacting flavour profile - rich with natural theanine and fresh minerality. The Japanese farmers are some of the most exacting producers we have ever witnessed and it is admirable how they control all of the elements to continually produce high quality tea despite nature's variables.
    The issue that Japan is facing is that this approach engenders inflexibility and as the teahead's excitedly search for exclusive and small batch tea with individuality, the Japanese tea sales are stalling. Thankfully the farmers are making changes and more Black and Oolong tea experimentaion is happening. I am excited to watch this area of the market bring them success.
    But whatever the future of other tea types, Japanese Greens are undisputed kings in the tea world and we thoroughly enjoyed sampling our way through the country.
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Комментарии • 212

  • @mrkrank1
    @mrkrank1 4 года назад +17

    "The rabbit hole goes very, very deep." No kidding. I can't stop watching.

  • @constantinlm9811
    @constantinlm9811 6 лет назад +118

    probably the best tea-lover channel on the tube! congrats mei leaf!

    • @MeiLeaf
      @MeiLeaf  6 лет назад +3

      +Constantin L M thank you!

  • @saffron1996
    @saffron1996 3 года назад +7

    for those of you who are weary about the material used during shading, (plastic, nylon, rusty pipes to hold such lining) you can specifically go out of your way to find "dento hon" gyokuro, which is shaded using layers of straw held up by wood. This type of shading actually gives a sweeter note to the final product, although it is very expensive and i usually pay about $135 CAD for about 115 grams of gyo.

  • @dadefe2276
    @dadefe2276 12 дней назад

    Probably the best introduction video about Japanese green tea out there.

  • @visaljhurry6155
    @visaljhurry6155 6 лет назад +2

    Thanking all people who were involved in this great video.

  • @darkamyntas3820
    @darkamyntas3820 6 лет назад +2

    I have to mention, all the ways that this video is presented are quite excellent. At first I just thought it'd be a typical/generic boring informative video, but there was no filler, no nonsense, and the presenter did a fantastic job. Not surprising that out of all the views it has, there is not a single dislike.

    • @MeiLeaf
      @MeiLeaf  6 лет назад

      +Alex Cambron thank you Alex, that is very generous of you.

  • @UncleRa
    @UncleRa 6 лет назад +21

    Hands down, one of the best videos on japanese green tea . Thank you!

  • @Seanmmvi
    @Seanmmvi 5 лет назад +16

    I have such a deep respect for the Japanese culture, and this video only adds to that fascination.

    • @Liliquan
      @Liliquan 3 года назад +1

      Comes across more as an obsession.

  • @katinka7730
    @katinka7730 5 лет назад +8

    I absoulutly adore the level of respect and sheer reverence he regards these traditions with. The passion and love is shining clear through

  • @Ladycooks
    @Ladycooks 6 лет назад +5

    I just had a giggle moment when a celestial seasons tea ad popped up in the video!

    • @MeiLeaf
      @MeiLeaf  6 лет назад +2

      +I Like Loose Leaf 😂

  • @ruthannamarteifio9069
    @ruthannamarteifio9069 6 лет назад +33

    Don, I've learned so much from you and the vids you put out here!
    Really appreciate what you are doing! :)

    • @MeiLeaf
      @MeiLeaf  6 лет назад +2

      +Ruthann Amarteifio thanks for watching we are so happy when we pass on the knowledge for you to share to others!

  • @Kawartha65
    @Kawartha65 2 года назад +2

    So interesting …. I’ll never complain about pricing again.
    The process is way more involved than I realized.
    Your videos are my new “ visual amsr” with all those beautiful green tea fields!

  • @Jingizz
    @Jingizz 6 лет назад +37

    I drink 90% japanese green teas, just love it. Fukamushi Senchas are my favorite. I also like Gyokuro. But Bancha is not my thing :).

    • @moritzkohler9214
      @moritzkohler9214 5 лет назад +3

      I tasted amazing banchas. Give them a try

    • @roddevereaux1830
      @roddevereaux1830 4 года назад +1

      I can only afford bancha in australia and I drink it for health rather then flavour so i brew it at 90c for 10-15mins until nothing further can be drawn out. Its not even that strong after that amount of time to me anyway. I can get chinese grown sencha cheap but the quality is questionable

    • @chrisg4578
      @chrisg4578 3 года назад

      @@roddevereaux1830 Yeah chinese tea is mass produced and oxidized which kills nutrients. Its no wear near the quality of japanese green tea. Health wise and taste japan wins. Not that chinese tea is bad for you but japanese tea keeps all of the good stuff in it

  • @Ermude10
    @Ermude10 6 лет назад +34

    This was such an informative video! Very interesting!

  • @IvanPavlov
    @IvanPavlov 4 года назад +3

    The quality of this channel is amazing!

  • @Stymphalidus
    @Stymphalidus Год назад

    this is so great. why am I paying for government TV if this is so much better than anything I've ever seen on tee. love your passion and clear explanations :)

  • @briovanmerlin2408
    @briovanmerlin2408 5 лет назад +6

    Thank you very much for your super explaining film about Japanese tea

  • @roughtlyRitz
    @roughtlyRitz 6 лет назад +10

    i would really like to a roasted tea comparison. hojicha vs oolong vs anyothers. since in the norther hemisphere its approaching winter roasted tea is supper cozy to drink. imho

  • @ComicSans89
    @ComicSans89 6 месяцев назад

    There are some very good green teas from Vietnam from when I visited there nearly a decade ago.

  • @tommessenger7726
    @tommessenger7726 6 лет назад +2

    Interesting video, thanks. I live in Chiran, Kagoshima, Japan. We are big tea producers, and I've learned a lot about what I see around me every day :)

  • @wilfriedvomacka1783
    @wilfriedvomacka1783 2 года назад

    Absolutely superb video. I knew nothing about Japanese teas before watching this video. Now, after watching, I feel like having PhD. in Japanese teas.

  • @dennisjohansson5716
    @dennisjohansson5716 2 года назад

    The tea trips are really cool to see!

  • @user-ih5et4iq5b
    @user-ih5et4iq5b Год назад

    Thanks for all the educative information, make you more interested in tea

  • @DGerharts
    @DGerharts 6 лет назад

    Thank you for taking us with you!

  • @ixi9
    @ixi9 5 месяцев назад

    SUCH AN AWESOME VIDEO!

  • @peppersoltesz
    @peppersoltesz 5 лет назад

    Excellent video, thanks!

  • @onixtheone
    @onixtheone 3 года назад

    Every tea picker should be encouraged to "sneak a nibble" to the plants they pick daily, they would from experience be able to distinguish when something tastes off or not what is expected. so much knowledge can be gained just from the workers.

  • @annathy
    @annathy 4 года назад

    Thank you! I love learning new things.

  • @banihex
    @banihex 6 лет назад +2

    There is a good tea bag! (well, maybe just a few lol) Totally respectable tea that is fine, not amazing, but good. Green tea, with matcha, and toasted rice. Good taste for hiking!

  • @TenzinT
    @TenzinT 2 года назад

    Great information. Thank you

  • @KittyBrnich
    @KittyBrnich 6 лет назад +1

    Thanks for providing us with great videos! Definitely learning a lot about teas!

  • @meladanpathieu1948
    @meladanpathieu1948 3 года назад

    really coo thanks for sharing this!

  • @alweingilang4251
    @alweingilang4251 6 лет назад

    thanks for sharing the knowledge of japanese green tea.

  • @embee221b
    @embee221b 6 лет назад

    Don, what a great video, this was so informative I kept pausing to take notes. Thank you. :) Really fascinating, to see the process step by step, and you’ve really answered a lot of questions I had surrounding organic teas and pesticides. This was great! Wish I could have been walking tea gardens in Japan. One day...

  • @mserious23
    @mserious23 6 лет назад +2

    Outstanding piece! Thorough, eloquent and highly informative!

  • @AlinaG-fr6ee
    @AlinaG-fr6ee 6 лет назад +1

    Thank you very much! Very interesting and it is new information for me!!!!!!

  • @DracoLudens
    @DracoLudens 4 года назад

    Superb video with marvellous explanations. Thank you very much!

  • @weepeng
    @weepeng 5 лет назад +1

    Thanks for this wonderful video. Full of all the great information.

  • @onestupidperson8354
    @onestupidperson8354 6 лет назад +1

    This is such a neat video. I love how you're encouraging farmers to think out of the box. That's great for all of us :)

  • @dronez6772
    @dronez6772 6 лет назад

    Thank you so much for this very interesting video! I‘m a big fan of japanese green teas and always wondered how they process the tea.

  • @OdracyrSotnas
    @OdracyrSotnas 4 года назад

    A lot of good information, documentary type, and know how. Amazing congratulations!

  • @Crashoverall
    @Crashoverall 6 лет назад +1

    this is amazing content.
    thank you

  • @jamesinphoenix
    @jamesinphoenix 10 месяцев назад

    This was super informative and interesting! Love these "behind the scenes" videos!!

  • @dc4481
    @dc4481 5 лет назад +1

    what a great video. Thanks for this

  • @Skeleton5621
    @Skeleton5621 2 года назад

    Congratulations for your great job! Very complete and clear.

  • @Wintella
    @Wintella 6 лет назад +3

    Thank you very much for this awesome video ! I learned a lot today !

  • @TheNanoSan
    @TheNanoSan 6 лет назад +1

    Thank you so very much for the video! I love japanese tea, and this video made my tea-heart very happy!!! :)

  • @Koato
    @Koato 4 года назад

    I’m blown away with the amount of information and clarity with which you present it. Hopefully I can stop by the shop if I ever make it to London, as well as the tea fields of Japan. Thank you very much for putting in the effort to make these videos! :)

  • @cauterizer8205
    @cauterizer8205 3 года назад +1

    What an excellent, informative video. I'm only just finding your channel and I love it already!

  • @m.lecollie3565
    @m.lecollie3565 2 года назад

    Thank you Don. The diversity of tea is amazing.

  • @adamsvetlik6636
    @adamsvetlik6636 6 лет назад +1

    Thanks for this great video. I love japanese green teas.

  • @flamboyant91
    @flamboyant91 2 года назад

    amazing video

  • @jat2319
    @jat2319 5 лет назад

    Loving going through all your videos and learning more and more. I am recently a gongfu convert and can't get enough!

  • @wanderingteaapprentice1039
    @wanderingteaapprentice1039 5 лет назад +2

    Great presentation! It is nice seeing out in the field.

  • @wit_tea_taster4036
    @wit_tea_taster4036 6 лет назад +1

    Thanks for sharing, Don and Celine. I love the tea trips videos.

  • @yingzhou7317
    @yingzhou7317 6 лет назад

    Very educational. Thanks!!

  • @desertfox432
    @desertfox432 6 лет назад

    Wow that really covered it. I've been drinking Japanese green since the 90's and learned a few things watching.

  • @mario7027
    @mario7027 6 лет назад +1

    15:20 "It's like snowing green tea out there" 😁

  • @fdadrtrttewrt
    @fdadrtrttewrt 4 года назад +1

    Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have learned a lot. I have gotten serious about tea lately and your videos have added to my appreciation of this amazing plant.

  • @Carruloable
    @Carruloable 4 года назад +2

    Amazing informative content, great work in capturing and explaining all these details :) Thumbs up

  • @tharushijayawardana7025
    @tharushijayawardana7025 2 года назад

    Thank you its very helpful for my acedemics. Again thank you very much. Go ahead 🤟👍

  • @Mindful_TEA_Break
    @Mindful_TEA_Break 6 лет назад +14

    Always nice to see your tea journeys. Learned something new about processing, picking and shading Japanese green teas - there is always something more to learn about tea :)) oh and I have request more to Celine - please try to make a video about the artwork process for cakes! We talked about it with some teaheads on Instagram. People love the artwork and I'm sure lots of us out there would love to see how the designs and printing are getting done all the way up to wrapping cakes :))

    • @wit_tea_taster4036
      @wit_tea_taster4036 6 лет назад +2

      just4fit I agree 100% about the artwork videos! That would be so cool to watch.

    • @MeiLeaf
      @MeiLeaf  6 лет назад +2

      +just4fit yes we are planning this after your suggestion. Thanks.

  • @broakland2
    @broakland2 3 года назад

    Thank you, excellent information well presented n

  • @the-narrow-way
    @the-narrow-way Год назад

    Wow! an amazing look "behind the scenes" of Japanese tea growing

  • @ROSEISDAHLTROYEGREEN
    @ROSEISDAHLTROYEGREEN 6 лет назад +1

    wonderfull videos..thank you so much..we are really sipping our tea, knowing what it is all about..

  • @cocteauowl5695
    @cocteauowl5695 4 года назад

    One of the best efforts i've seen on RUclips, we should be grateful that people like you exist, thank you very much to you and Celine. Love from Saudi Arabia.

  • @lightningslim
    @lightningslim 6 лет назад

    Another great video! Kudos to both writer/presenter and camerawoman! :)

  • @grainmeat
    @grainmeat 6 лет назад +2

    Thanks Don and Celine....so appreciate your video's. This one was an excellent explanation of Japanese tea market and processing. Making it real. Much better than a book!

  • @normalisgone
    @normalisgone 4 года назад

    I wasn't ready for the video to end! lol

  • @borishdx
    @borishdx 6 лет назад +1

    Super video, I feel like travelling with you in Japan, also very instructive

  • @thiagocavila
    @thiagocavila 5 лет назад +1

    Perfect video! I would also like to see the machines harvesting.

  • @shutupack5389
    @shutupack5389 4 года назад +1

    This channel is freaking awesome.

  • @Smokdeel
    @Smokdeel 6 лет назад +1

    Thanks! I feel more confident about buying green liquid gold now!

  • @GeoffBernard
    @GeoffBernard 6 лет назад

    I just tried Sencha recently and it's cool to see the origin. It's like How It's Made - Japenese Tea.. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

  • @anouksurmenian4257
    @anouksurmenian4257 4 года назад

    Love this video! The place I work at only sells fukamushi, some producers consider it “gehin” like a “lower” quality but it’s also so easy to prepare for regular drinker, I really like it 😊

  • @bixbe_sglearn
    @bixbe_sglearn 3 года назад

    great tea channel! I love tea.

  • @hansparment550
    @hansparment550 5 лет назад +2

    Very interested video, perfect for me to now more about Japanese tea. Going to Japan on Friday. First stop Kyoto and of course Uji.

  • @nnuyt
    @nnuyt 6 лет назад

    You are the best!

  • @marciaschuler1987
    @marciaschuler1987 4 года назад

    Great video! Congrats!

  • @whit1981
    @whit1981 6 лет назад +33

    The Japanese always take things to the maximum excellence level

    • @Ken-iu2zp
      @Ken-iu2zp 3 года назад

      Have you been?

    • @jamesreed422
      @jamesreed422 3 года назад +4

      “The Japanese people are like everyone else, just more so” -Dan Carlin (hardcore history)

  • @kwool5151
    @kwool5151 6 лет назад

    Awesome video!

  • @EstebanJavornik
    @EstebanJavornik 3 года назад

    Ive learned more from these videos than from my Master Tea Sommelier course...

  • @jackkennard4539
    @jackkennard4539 4 года назад

    great video ~ 2 thumbs up

  • @K1LD3R
    @K1LD3R 3 года назад

    seriously underrated channel

  • @scottkostreba4480
    @scottkostreba4480 6 лет назад

    Thank you for the great information about sourcing and processing of Matcha. I really enjoy matcha in the morning and a few cups of organic kukicha through out the work day.

    • @Nioteas
      @Nioteas 5 лет назад

      I love to drink kukicha in the evening

  • @josephhurtado8113
    @josephhurtado8113 5 лет назад

    Awesome video. It was great information. I pretty much did all this research a few years ago by scoring the net on blog posts and small RUclips clips. But you summed it up really good in this one vid. I am looking forward to buying some Japanese tea. Keep it up

    • @Nioteas
      @Nioteas 5 лет назад

      Thanks for drinking Japanese Green tea. If you need ever any information about organic tea - let us know.

  • @PontusPresents
    @PontusPresents 6 лет назад

    Splendid as usual! :)

  • @wesdashman
    @wesdashman 6 лет назад +1

    thanks!!!

  • @vincentsikora6552
    @vincentsikora6552 Год назад

    Thank you!

    • @vincentsikora6552
      @vincentsikora6552 Год назад

      I have found this video about organic and non organic that you might find interesting.
      ruclips.net/video/A0ZdUxiXLC0/видео.html

  • @xmodmodifier
    @xmodmodifier 3 года назад

    I've only been serious with tea specifically matcha for just a couple months but the knowledge you share is absolutely an amazing!

    • @saffron1996
      @saffron1996 3 года назад

      same here! except for about a year now... have you tried drinking your matcha from a bizen chawan? bizen clay is the best compliment to japanese greens imho

  • @gordie997
    @gordie997 6 лет назад +1

    Fantastic video. Hoping Mei Leaf becomes a global franchise!

  • @KNDYdesu
    @KNDYdesu 4 года назад

    Great video!

  • @marci8435
    @marci8435 5 лет назад +1

    Great Video. Really nice tea education =) also love all the other
    videos.
    One important thing to mention imo is that if a field is treated with pesticides, no matter which harvest, the plants on it are also going to have pesticides. The pestcides go into the ground and are poisening earth and water in some radius around the field no matter what. plants which are growing there will also going to have those pesticides; even at the 1st harvest one year later.
    My research atm about tea showed me that you can drink tea either for taste (pleasure ect) or for health. Espeacially as a consumer it is super hard to know and get some tea which combines both. But I am glad to get teached any better.

    • @Nioteas
      @Nioteas 5 лет назад

      Maybe to follow us could be informative for you. We only make research on Organic Japanese Green Tea.

  • @yngwerhappen
    @yngwerhappen 5 лет назад

    I give both thumbs up and make the next Kabusecha brew.

  • @empiricwisdom7902
    @empiricwisdom7902 6 лет назад +4

    Japanese greens tend to be regarded as higher quality, and it is true for the most part, especially hand-picked ones (the leaves tend to be larger and the taste is just phenomenal). However, lets not forget that China also makes wonderful green tea. If you drink good quality Dragon Well, you'll see that it probably tops most Japanese green teas. But good things always to come with a price...

  • @rtyzxc
    @rtyzxc 2 года назад

    I like the idea of machinery, because it gives the producer perfect control over the tea without unknown variables. I also don't think this would by definition discourage experimentation, I bet there are tons of adjustable variables to get different kind of tea.

  • @Qrofol
    @Qrofol 4 года назад

    Seeing this a bit late, but this was very interesting. I really hope the farmers in Japan are continuing to experiment as I've always found the Japanese tea offerings to be way too simple and unappealing since I am someone who doesn't appreciate the umami in my teas the same way as they do. I would love to see and try out some Japanese oolongs in the future.

  • @0Templegoddess
    @0Templegoddess 6 лет назад

    Thank you Don and Celine for this amazing video :) I love high quality Gyokuro, it's always been one of my favourite green teas. I loved the sneaky nibble x) that lady has it good! It's a shame that Japan is so industrial though.

  • @yoshiko1036
    @yoshiko1036 3 года назад

    Absolutely amazing!
    I love your channel and your effort, call me up the next time you're in Japan so we can sip a delicate cup of tea. Much love from Yokohama!

  • @pde442
    @pde442 6 лет назад +5

    Good video

    • @DawiThumbnails
      @DawiThumbnails 6 лет назад +1

      pde442 you havent seen the video pipe down