In a blow to the British cuppa, a Kagoshima black tea became the first Japanese entrant to win a top award at London’s prestigious Great Taste Awards, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October.
The international food contest sponsored by Britain’s Guild of Fine Food awarded Kaoru and Miyoko Kayano, of Makurazaki, the top 3 Star-rated Gold Prize for their handpicked Himefuki brand.
Judges praised the purity and taste, describing the flavour as “rich honey-like with hints of bitterness”.
The major growing area of Makurazaki was adversely affected when import restrictions were eased in 1971, forcing producers to harvest green tea. Kaoru, 68, revived the Himefuki tea plant in 2001 with new soil and organic methods, using his eyes and fingertips to check quality as the tealeaves were plucked.
His annual yield is just 100-150kg and the tea is only available at stores in Kagoshima.
“Authentic products aren’t subject to the whims of changing times and will always be loved by people. We want to cultivate Makurazaki black tea in a way that ensures its authenticity”, he said.
A black tea grown by the Satsuma Eikokukan museum in Minami-Kyushu won two stars in 2007.
