Tea Information From 日本茶BANK
2022.05.30 Update
Blessings of Bansho River and Kappa @ Inoicha (Saiki City, Oita Prefecture) by Ono Farm
目次
What is Inbi tea?
Saiki City, Oita Prefecture. Saiki City, Oita Prefecture, is in the southernmost part of Oita Prefecture, and Miyazaki Prefecture is right there. This kettle-fired tea is made from tea leaves produced in the Honjo area located in the mountains of Saiki City. It is called "Inbicha" or "Inbicha.
Long ago, the lord of the Saiki domain received seeds from Nagasaki, and production of Inoicha began.
At that time, the lord directly supported the production of Inoicha. Tea in Kyushu was probably introduced from Nagasaki everywhere.
In 1191, Zen Master Eisai returned to Japan from China with tea fruits along with the teachings of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.
At that time, Dejima was located in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, so he established Japan's first tea garden there. In the middle of the Edo period, a lord of the Mori domain (Saiki City, Oita Prefecture) visited Dejima in Nagasaki Prefecture, heard about tea made from kettle-fired tea that had come from China, bought some seeds, and planted them with farmers who were engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture at the time because the weather and climate conditions in the Inao area were suitable for tea cultivation.
Banshogawa River, which nurtures Ino tea
Ono Farm's field is a very pleasant place. The water flowing into the Bansho River, a first-class river in Oita Prefecture, is so beautiful that you can drink it as it is, which means that the tea is nurtured by this water.
Oita Prefecture is actually a mountainous region with few plains and mountains. Therefore, there are many large rivers, and if you go upstream, you will find river fish swimming vigorously.
It is said that you can catch landlocked salmon, chub mackerel, wakasagi, sweetfish, eels, and river crabs.
There are also many legends of kappa (water imps) here...
There are always cute kappa sitting at the foot of the many bridges in the area.
Visit to the Inoicha production site
Ono Noen is responsible for all tea production in the Honjo area. He is responsible for making tea at the Ino Tea Processing Plant, which produces tea for the entire region.
Mr. Ono is also good at making new types of tea, the most popular of which is "ICHOBA Kocha" (ICHO leaf black tea).
The most popular of his teas is "ICHOBA Kocha," which is made by a special process in which he wilts ICHOBA leaves from his own garden together with black tea.
Ginkgo leaves are usually used as a dietary supplement. It is said to be effective for memory. It is no wonder that it has become popular in Japan, where the population is aging.
We are rooted in the community, receive enough blessings, and live here.
It's a happy state of affairs.
And Mr. Ono is very funny.
In Oita Prefecture, there is a famous "Tonchi King" named "Kicchomu-san" who is the hero of a folk tale.
The story of Kichishiroku-san is always taught to children at elementary schools in Oita Prefecture. It is as if that ponchi is contagious to Mr. Ono.
Ono Noen's teas are kettle roasted tea and black tea.
The main tea is Yabukita (↓on the right in the image).
The black tea is "Original Blend" (↓ image center) and "Icho leaf black tea" (↓ image left).
The "ICHOBA Kocha" is a product that we joined in product development and perfected.
It is so popular that it sells out every year and has grown to become one of Ono Noen's main products. We are very happy about that.
Ginkgo leaves contain an ingredient that controls memory, and recently we have seen many supplements with the word "gingko" written on them.
*gingko is the English name for gingko.
At this time, he also started making semi-fermented tea (meaning oolong tea), which is difficult to make.
Some teas are matured by sleeping for several years.
The energetic Mr. Ono is also taking on the challenge of making new teas.
This area, Honjo, is a wonderful, tranquil, original Japanese landscape suitable for tea cultivation.
We are currently looking for someone to take over the tea business to continue the tea culture here.
Every community is now facing the "successor problem".
I hope Mr. Ono will continue to make tea in good health for a long time. With his lovely wife (*^^*)
