World O-Cha Gyokuro Festival 2010 I went to the October 29 World O-Cha (Tea) Festival (世界 お茶 祭り) 2010, held in Shizuoka from October 28 to 31.
The large exhibition complex and a concert called "Granship" located immediately at the exit of the station Is Shizuoka (Shizuoka Higashi), is hosting this important event that unfolds over several rooms and floors and.
Tastings, demonstrations, exhibitions, conferences, etc., in short, a wide variety of exhibitors and participants from around the world to represent the World of Tea. However, starting immediately by small disappointment, as it will be done. The absence of a number of producing regions across the world. Mainland China virtually absent if we set aside especially for 4 stands idle and empty. So India is not represented by Darjeeling, Assam or even. In contrast, positive, remarkable presence of Korean teas, largely unknown.
To continue the grievance, the number of producing regions of Japan
is absolutely not represented. The main activity of company presentations and regions, the center of the festival lies in the main hall of the ground floor. Photo below.
Japanese tea dominates about half of the stands. And among these, half for the Shizuoka Prefecture. The rest, some companies products, stand for Kyoto, Kagoshima one and one for Yame. If, for instance, Mie, Miyazaki and Kumamoto, but unsung respectively 3rd, 4th and 5th-producing regions of Japan, and even Sayama, famous growing region near Tokyo.
But do not be choosy, beyond this disappointment, it was a very exciting day. First, the opportunity to taste through here and there some wonderful Japanese teas, sencha
and
gyokuro .
It was interesting to see that while Shizuoka, Japan's first producing region serves as a poor student as to the diversification of cultivars
, with 90% of Yabukita, exhibitors here were hard to show a diversity of cultivars .. .. things they would begin to move in Shizuoka, or simply looking to make high quality products at very impact taste?
Above stalls Kakegawa (Shizuoka), Tenryu (Shizuoka), Kyoto, , and Okabe (small growing region in Shizuoka
Gyokuro). Below, a large stand of black tea
made in japan.
And below, the booth of a company that makes luxury bottled Japanese tea, so bottle of wine. Very very expensive, it is very classy, but I do not know what products are worth in the bottle.
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa, Uruguay and Paraguay were represented.
But of course, stands among the "foreigners" the star was quite Taiwan. Ding Dong, Gao Shan Cha, black tea, but it was the Oriental Beauty that exhibitors put foremost.
The photo below shows a tea suan-gang, a Taiwanese citrus, tea and truffles cooked. It seems that this is now very rare (?), And whether a product derived from the tradition of the Hakka ethnic group. No tasting was offered ...
Also, several booths were the too little known Korean tea.
I spent some time on one of the stands accompanied by a lady specialist Korean tea and tea producer that the lady made me enjoy (and incidentally of the interpreter, all these people who speak neither Japanese nor English, half French, of course). Green tea (which reminds me vaguely huang shang feng moa) and a semi-fermented (with aromas of Oriental Beauty). Made of 100% hand from wild tea trees.
Returning to Japanese tea, there was the inevitable demonstrations rolled tea (mixed) by hand ( temomi cha 手 揉み 茶). It requires 4-5 hours, so I beg the indulgent reader to forgive me for not having photographed the entire process.
Here we are at the beginning:
Here at the end:
Different chakai 茶会, "Tea meeting", or pattern of consumption and preparation specific to different countries were also the occasion of demonstrations.
Tunisia and mint tea
Indian Chai
China, it is longer need
Here ceremony Sencha (Sencha-do 煎茶 道)
Finally, no need to say that the accessories, teapots and others, were also honored. We could see the objects from the competition of tea accessories and objects from various wholesalers and retailers, mainly Tokoname-yaki 常 滑 焼 and to a lesser extent Banko-yaki 万古 焼. Also, a nice collection of Korean matcha bowls had to add a touch of diversity.
short, a great day, not to mention the events he was forbidden to photograph, photo exhibition, exhibition coordination, table demonstration of tea ceremony accompanied by an exhibition of ancient and famous accessories, such as a bowl or Raku Chojiro Ogata Kanzan creations!