Ishizuchi Kurocha Tea Making in 2023 - Traditional Post-Fermented Tea Making in Saijo, Ehime, Japan

Описание: This video is an edited version of videos shot by SONO with permission from Visee, one of Ishizuchi Kurocha makers in the summer of 2023.
This tea-making scene is a part of the Ishizuchi Kurocha Yokomineji tea making process.

The video includes the following main tea making scenes.

1. Wash and clean harvested branches
2. Steam
3. Take out branches and stems
4. Pack the leaves in crates
5. Ferment in a corner of Yokomineji temple grounds
6. Break off clumps of fermented tea leaves
7. Dry in the sun

The scenes of the tea branch harvest and the rolling leaves between 1st and 2nd fermentation are not included in this video.

Ishizuchi Kurocha has been produced for many years in Ishizuchi Village in the mountains surrounding Mt. Ishizuchi, but when the last tea producer gave up making the tea in the village, it seemed one time that the tea-making tradition would come to an end.
However, three local groups took over the tea making, and Visee (NPO Ishizuchi Square), who appears in this video, is one of the tea makers.

The uniqueness of Ishizuchi Kurocha tea is that it is fermented twice. During the second fermentation, lactic acid bacteria floating in the area produce a unique sour taste.

Visee produces two types of Ishizuchi Kurocha, and in this video, the fermentation takes place at Yokomineji Temple, the 60th of the 88 temples on Shikoku Island.

Ishizuchi Kurocha was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan this year.
Accordingly, the tea maker plans to replace its tea-making equipment with more traditional ones.

A visionary goal of Visee is to provide work opportunities for elderly and handicapped people,
and tea making is one of the work opportunities Visee offers them.

With our limited video editing skills, we apologize that some of the scenes may not be as clear as other scenes.

Ishizuchi Kurocha tea production takes place during the hot summer months, and
this summer was particularly hot in Japan. We hope you can sense the passion towards tea-making that the video embodies.

Finally, SONO would like to thank everyone at Visee for their cooperation in the video shoot, especially Shinozuka-san and Ide-san for their special understanding and support.

You can purchase Ishizuchi Kurocha with the following links.
1. Ishizuchi Kurocha - Standard (25g/bag)
https://www.sono-organic.com/product/...
2. Ishizuchi Kurocha - Yokomineji - Limited Edition (17g/bag)
https://www.sono-organic.com/product/...

SONO ORGANIC promotes organic and eco-friendly farming and connects local tea producers and consumers around the world.
Our site: https://sono-organic.com

Video location: Saijo-city, Ehime, Japan

SONO obtained the approval and permission from Visee, Ishizuchi Kurocha maker, to make this video public.
Music is "White River - Aakash Gandhi" from YouTube Music Library.