Birthplace of Nagatani Soen 永谷宗円生家
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In 1738, Nagatani Soen basically invented sencha green tea by using a kneading process for young tea leaves. He used a hot drying plate called hoiro to knead the steamed tea buds by hand to dry them. The process is called aosei sencha seiho.
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Nagatani Soen's birthplace is not easily accessible unless you have a car.
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His birthplace house is a replica in Yuyadani, Ujitawara. Open only on Sat. and Sun.
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Nagatani Soen's birthplace home (replica).
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Inside Nagatani Soen's birthplace home (replica). There's a video explaining the process.
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Hoiro, a hot drying plate for kneading tea buds to make sencha. It produced excellent color, aroma, and taste of sencha tea. He taught his technique to anybody who flocked to his home. It spread nationwide and his basic technique is still in wide use today.
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Grid underneath the hoiro.
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