OWARIASAHI, Aichi, Japan
Japanese favor green tea but black teas also have a following. Each year the city of Owariasahi in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan hosts the day-long event. Several businesses that serve black tea (restaurants, tea lounges, and merchants collectively known as Tasty Black Tea Shops) promote activities that will take place from 10 am to 4 pm Oct. 22. The organizing committee anticipates 5,000 visitors.
Photo by Yumi Nakatsugawa
Rolling tea leaves at Owariashi Tea Festival
Rolling tea leaves at Owariashi Tea Festival
The festival encourages tea lovers of all ages to experience various aspects of black tea through seminars, a symposium, a tea bazaar, and other attractions. The event is at Skyward Asahi, high on a hill.
Photo by Yumi Nakatsugawa
Elizabete Ume Shimada
Grandmother's tea founder Elizbete Ume Shimada
Special guests include Samantha P.K. Wijesekara from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tokyo. Another special exhibitor is 90-year-old Japanese-Brazilian black tea producer, Elizabete Ume Shimada, known as Grandma Ume. She will join the festival for the third consecutive year. Shimada produces “Obaachan” tea in Registro, on the southern coast of São Paulo. She launched the tea in the Japanese market at Owariasahi in 2015. In addition, a Malawi tea from Africa will appear in the tasting event for the first time, the sample is provided by Ranfer Teas (Central Africa) Ltd.
The festival has been strengthening ties with black tea producing countries year by year.
One of the unique programs especially for tea connoisseurs is the black tea making experience in which withered tea leaves are hand-rolled, fermented and dried by individual participants. The program starts at 9 am at neighboring Nagoya Management Junior College, prior registration is required.
Learn more: http://teafes.com/ (Japanese)