Wakoucha - Black Tea
Wakoucha is a special kind of black tea that's only made in Japan. Similar to the Chinese tea classification system (based on steeped colour) the name actually translates as "Japanese Red Tea", denoting the beautiful red woody hue of the liquor.
Japanese black tea is much lighter and more gentle than the other black teas you can find in mainland Asia. Wakoucha could be compared with a gentle Darjeeling compared to the more robust varieties such as Assam.
With very slight astringency, delicate nuanced flavour profile and sweet floral notes, wakoucha comes as a recommendation for any tea lover.
A Brief History
Japanese black tea production started in the Meiji era approximately 150 years ago, in order to compete with the exports of India, Sri Lanka and China. As green tea was too delicate to ship over long distances, black tea was a viable export as the country opened up to international trade. For a very short while Japanese black tea exports to the U.S. exceeded that of China, however Japanese farms could not match the scale of production of its counterparts. As black tea was not widely consumed in Japan and due to various legislative changes, the tea fell out of favour with farmers and was largely forgotten.
In recent years there has been an increased interest in Japanese black tea, although still only a small number of farmers produce it. Like many industries in Japan, black tea is now treated as a special artisanal product, allowing farmers the freedom to hone their craft and present unique offerings amongst a largely competitive international market.
Tea Types
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