Summer Solstice

June 21st is "Summer solstice."

The summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Summer is here and the heat is increasing.

The blended tea representing the summer solstice combines "Kurazawa" black tea from Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, with Japanese rose WABARA, Japanese ginger, and lemon peel.

The rich, sweet floral aroma is followed by the bittersweet acidity of lemon, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.

This is a great item to have while taking a break on a summer evening.

The summer solstice occurs about 40 days after the 88th day when the first crop of tea is harvested, and corresponds to the time when the second crop of tea is harvested.

An old Japanese tea industry book states that, regarding second-grade tea, "by the summer solstice the buds are hard and the aroma is weak, but the quantity is plentiful." Compared to first-grade tea, second-grade tea has a stronger astringent taste and a cleaner impression.

It is said to be suitable for making roasted tea or cold tea, which has a refreshing taste, but some farmers also use the second flush to make fermented tea such as black tea or oolong tea.

The type of tea that is produced varies greatly depending on the tea trees in the area and the tea master who makes it.

Furthermore, it has long been said that the morning dew of the summer solstice, when the sun's power is at its strongest, is good for the body.

Second-stage tea is the tea that has stored the most power from the sun.

We hope you will enjoy and experience the fine qualities of each tea.