Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi: From Farm to Teahouse

Nishio produces 60% of the matcha tea sold in Japan, and much of it used to make sweets such as ice cream and cookies. Due to its meticulous production, Nishio matcha is the preferred tea for many brands, and is used in everything from Häagen-Dazs to the Starbucks Matcha Latte. On this tea Nishio tea farm tour, visitors will come to appreciate the attention to detail that goes into creating matcha. The methods of matcha production are precise at every stage, from tea farming to matcha processing. Farms in Nishio shield their tea shrubs from the sun using special tarps, and the matcha tea is ground using a type of granite mill made in Japan. Only tea made using this type of mill can be considered matcha, and the speed at which it rotates is essential to ensure the best flavor and quality. This comprehensive matcha experience in Aichi starts at a tea farm, where guests can don tea picking uniforms and take photos, immersed in a sea of vibrant green tea bushes. Afterward, they will visit a matcha processing factory and try grinding their own matcha tea, tasting the difference that different types of matcha mills can make, using the same tea leaves. Then, at a tea house, they will learn the whisking technique to make the perfect frothy bowl of matcha, and enjoy it alongside Japanese sweets. Following a tonkatsu and sashimi lunch at Tonkatsu Nishiki, the tour will continue, showcasing the other sites that Nishio has to offer. At Nishio Historic Park, sip another bowl of matcha alongside sweets, seated at the teahouse of the former Konoe House and gaze out at Nishio Castle. Then, the tour will take a turn and introduce another Japanese product at Miso Park, accompanied by a tasting of several different types of miso.