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| − | [[Image:Japanese tea bushes-2005-3-19.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Sayama tea plantation]]
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| − | {{Nihongo|Sayama Tea|狭山茶|Sayama-cha}} is a type of [[green tea]] leaves produced mainly in the southwestern region of [[Saitama Prefecture]] and a small neighboring area in Northwestern [[Tokyo]]. In comparison to teas from other tea-growing regions in Japan, Sayama Tea is characterized with its thick leaves. This is because the region is considered to be fairly north, and the cool climate, which sometimes causes frost in winter, makes trees unable to survive without thick leaves.<ref name="ja.wikipedia.org">[[:ja:狭山茶]] Retrieved from the Japanese Wikipedia, on 2008 September 5</ref>
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| − | ==Characteristics==
| + | '''Sayamacha''' is a type of [[green tea]] respectively cultivar grown mainly in the southwestern region of Saitama Prefecture. Compared to other cultivars like [[Yabukita]] or Saemidori, sayamacha is characterized by its thick leaves. This is because the region around Saitama Prefecture is considered to be fairly north and has a cool climate. The frost in winter makes ordinary cultivars without thick leaves unable to survive. |
| − | Through selective breeding, efforts to develop tea trees strong in cold weather have been undertaken for many years. As a result, trees of Sayama Tea evolved to have thick leaves that can withstand cold weather. Tea extracted from such thick leaves resulted in a distinct sweet and rich flavor.
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| − | Sayama tea has been found to have some of the highest levels of the beneficial antioxidants found in green tea.<ref>http://lib3.dss.go.th/fulltext/Journal/J.Sci.Food%20and%20Agri/2005v85/no.12/2005v85no12p2125-2133.pdf</ref>
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| − | ==Region==
| + | Through selective breeding a frost resistant cultivar was developed over years. As a result, sayamacha cultivar evolved to have thick leaves that can withstand frosty temperature. Beside that, sayamacha has been found to have some of the highest levels of antioxidants in green tea. |
| − | The [[Musashino Plateau]] on which Sayama Tea is grown is suitable for tea growing. The plateau consists of two layers. The lower layer consists of conglomerates and sandstones that were brought to this region by rivers. The upper layer is made of a reddish loam created by the accumulation of volcanic ash. Together, these two layers make the region unsuitable for growing rice but suitable for tea growing, which requires high precipitation and high soil permeability.
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| − | ==History==
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| − | It is known that the Japanese people started growing tea trees roughly 800 years ago when Buddhist monks who traveled to China brought back seeds. A historical document from the [[Nanboku-chō period]], {{Nihongo|Iseiteikin’ōrai|異制庭訓往来}}, mentions {{Nihongo|[[Musashi Province|Musashi]] no kawagoe|武蔵河越}} as one of the best regions for tea along with {{Nihongo|[[Yamato Province|Yamato]] no muroo|大和室尾}}, {{Nihongo|[[Iga Province|Iga]] no hattori|伊賀八鳥}}, {{Nihongo|[[Ise Province|Ise]] no kawai|伊勢河居}}, {{Nihongo|[[Suruga Province|Suruga]] no seki|駿河関}}, and {{Nihongo|[[Kyoto]] no togano|京都栂尾}}. However, the production of tea was interrupted by war during the [[Sengoku period]].<ref>http://www.alit.city.iruma.saitama.jp/07tea-museum/13history.html Iruma Municipal Museum, Tea Museum website</ref>
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| − | Widespread tea growing restarted in the Mid-[[Edo period]]. In 1802, a technique called {{Nihongo|Sayama Biire|狭山火入}}, first steaming and then roasting on the surface of [[washi]] was invented by {{Nihongo|Yoshizumi Yoshikawa|吉川温恭}}, {{Nihongo|Morimasa Murano|村野盛政}}, and {{Nihongo|Han'emon Sashida|指田半右衛門}},<ref name="ja.wikipedia.org"/> based on the Uji roasting technique, which was deemed the best method in Japan at that time.<ref>[http://www.alit.city.iruma.saitama.jp/07tea-museum/index.html] Iruma Municipal Museum, Tea Museum website and</ref> This led to the revival of tea production in the region. In 1819 ([[Bunsei]] 2), tea leaves produced in this method started to be shipped to [[Edo]] in large amounts, receiving good reputations.
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| − | After the [[Meiji Restoration]], tea became one of the important exporting goods. Sayama Tea was exported to North America. In 1875 ([[Meiji era|Meiji]] 8), a privately owned company “Sayama Corporation” started direct exports of tea to the US. Around this time, the name of Sayama Tea began to be fixed. Although the war cause the production of tea to dwindle, the production soon recovered and by the 1960s and 1970s reached its peak. At present, however, the production and the area of tea fell to nearly half of those in the 1970s.
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * http://www.alit.city.iruma.saitama.jp/07tea-museum/index.html Iruma Municipal Museum, Tea Museum website
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| − | * http://www.cnet-sc.ne.jp/sym-cha/ the Saitama Prefecture Tea Industry Society official website
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| − | * http://iruma-cha.jp/ the Iruma Tea Industry Society official website
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| | [[Category:Green tea]] | | [[Category:Green tea]] |
| | [[Category:Japanese tea]] | | [[Category:Japanese tea]] |
| | + | [[Category:Cultivar]] |
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| | + | [[de:Sayamacha]] |
Sayamacha is a type of green tea respectively cultivar grown mainly in the southwestern region of Saitama Prefecture. Compared to other cultivars like Yabukita or Saemidori, sayamacha is characterized by its thick leaves. This is because the region around Saitama Prefecture is considered to be fairly north and has a cool climate. The frost in winter makes ordinary cultivars without thick leaves unable to survive.
Through selective breeding a frost resistant cultivar was developed over years. As a result, sayamacha cultivar evolved to have thick leaves that can withstand frosty temperature. Beside that, sayamacha has been found to have some of the highest levels of antioxidants in green tea.
