Shiogama's new symbol, "Date Tea," unveiled at the press conference [Miyagi Prefecture]

On July 27, 2017, a press conference was held at the main hall of Shiogama Shrine, the Ichinomiya (first-ranked shrine) of Mutsu Province, to announce the completion of "Date Tea."
Date Tea is a Japanese tea manufactured and sold by Yabeen Tea Shop Co., Ltd., which has a store in Shiogama City.
It is the northernmost tea to be produced using tea leaves grown in Monou-cho, Ishinomaki City.
This time, we will introduce "Date Tea," which has been born as a new specialty product of Shiogama.

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What is Yabeen Tea Shop?

Yabeen Tea Shop is a long-established tea shop that celebrated its 84th anniversary in 2017.
They work every day to spread the deliciousness of Japanese tea from Shiogama to all over Japan, and even to the world.

The deliciousness of this tea is guaranteed. It's so good
that it's even used as the tea served on JR East's luxury sleeper train, TRAIN SUITE Shiki-shima, which began operation this year.
We completely direct everything down to the brewing method of the tea, so that even customers who don't drink alcohol can fully enjoy its charm.

The new northernmost tea that Yabe-en is now manufacturing and selling is the "Date Tea" that we will introduce to you today

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What is Date tea?

Datecha is a Japanese tea produced in Monou-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture

Previously sold as "Momono Tea" and beloved by locals, it has been rebranded as "Date Tea" to reach a wider audience nationwide. The name
"Date" is a symbol representing Miyagi Prefecture.
The aim is to use this name to promote Miyagi Prefecture's culture to people across the country in a catchy way.

There were voices expressing regret at the loss of the Monou name.
However, Yabeen's president, Toru Yabe, explained that by establishing the "Date" symbol to attract nationwide attention, and then explaining that the tea was produced in Monou Town, they could promote the fact that tea is cultivated in Monou Town to the entire country, and that's why they made this decision.

The name "Momono" hasn't simply disappeared.
The packaging of Date Tea is designed in the style of "Kiriko," a part of Date culture, and the name Momoi lives on in the form of a peach pattern at the top center, which is meant to evoke the image of a brightly shining sun.

By the way, the name of this Date tea was officially recognized by the Date family, Date Yasumune, the 18th head of the family since Date Masamune!

Now, what I'm really curious about is the taste of Date tea.
There was a tasting corner at the venue, and I tried it myself. The moment I drank it, I thought, "I didn't know Japanese tea could be this delicious!" I
was that shocked.

The cold-brewed Datecha tea served at the venue, instead of cold-brewed coffee, came in two varieties: sencha and genmaicha.
Both offered a rich aroma that spread the moment you tasted them, a sensation unlike any tea I'd ever experienced before.
There was no bitterness, only a sweet taste.
A subtle astringency at the end left a refreshing aftertaste.

Brewing Date tea with ice water suppresses the release of caffeine, which is responsible for bitterness, resulting in a Japanese tea that is almost bitter and easy to drink.
While it is recommended to brew Date tea with ice water, you can also enjoy its refined bitterness by using warm water.
Try different brewing methods depending on the season and your mood to fully appreciate Date tea.

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How to enjoy Date tea

Date tea is recommended to be brewed with ice water, and a special teapot that can also be used as a shaker has been made for this purpose.
The method is simple.
Put the tea leaves into the teapot, add ice directly on top,
add room temperature water, and shake gently for about 90 seconds, and it's ready.

If you don't have a dedicated teapot, you can add ice and water and let it steep for 20-30 minutes before brewing for a delicious cup of tea.
Of course, brewing it with hot water offers a different kind of enjoyment, so please try both.
Date Tea will be officially released on August 5th, 2017.
It can be purchased at the Yabeen Tea Shop in Shiogama or through their online store.
350ml PET bottles are already available, so if you want to try it sooner, please purchase those.

Yabeen Tea Shop ＜Information＞

• Name: Yabeen Tea Shop
• Address: 1-20 Duo Hills Shiogama Kaigandori, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, 985-0002
• Phone number: 022-364-1515
• Official URL:http://yabe-en.com/

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