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Chotaro Horii is the 6th-generation owner/operator of Horii Shichimeien which was originally Okunoyama Chaen (奥ノ山茶園), one of Uji's Seven Reknown Tea Fields (七名園).
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In 15th century, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and Yoshinaga loved Uji tea so much that they designated seven tea fields as the Seven Reknown Tea Fields. Today only Okunoyama Chaen remains.
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Only part of the original Okunoyama Chaen remains as a tea field. The original Okunoyama tea field was larger. Notice the shade.
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Near their tea farm, Horii Shichimeien also has a tea shop selling some of Japan's finest tea.
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Some of the finest Uji matcha powder at Horii Shichimeien.
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Some of the finest Uji matcha powder at Horii Shichimeien.
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Behind Horii Shichimeien's tea shop is a small tea house for tea ceremony. Mr. Horii kindly prepares his finest marcha tea for us.
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Matcha tea and a confection. The tea was outstanding. It had a malty, matcha taste. Pretty thick. The aftertaste was interesting.
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Mrs. Horii prepares a different kind of tea.
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We then got to see Horii Shichimeien's matcha tea factory. (Note that this is not open to normal tourists.)
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Inside Horii Shichimeien's tea factory.
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It was a room full of stone grinders grinding matcha tea leaves into fine matcha power.
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Stone grinders grinding matcha (tencha) tea leaves into fine matcha power at Horii Shichimeien's tea factory.
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Stone grinders grinding matcha tea leaves into fine matcha power at Horii Shichimeien's tea factory. Watching these grinders was mesmerizing..
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Matcha tea leaves to be ground.
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Sample grinder. The dried tea leaves are fed through a funnel to the grinding stones.
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Grinder face
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Small grinder.
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Tourists visiting Byodo-in temple can also experience and taste Uji tea at nearby Takumi no Yakata (匠の館).
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Entrance to Takumi no Yakata (匠の館).
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Takumi no Yakata was where we could make our own tea (with careful instructions).
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Inside Takumi no Yakata. Like a workshop or classroom for making tea.
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Our tea-making kit. Everything is provided.
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Hot water thermos.
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Our instructor (on the left).
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Our tea-making kit.
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First cup of tea.
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Another cup.
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In the end, we could even eat the used tea leaves which tasted like spinach maybe.
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