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Is Sayama tea a variety or a region? What kind of tea is it?

You may have heard of Sayama tea (Sayama-cha), but is it a tea variety or a region? Let’s answer this simple question and introduce you to the characteristics and some recommended types of Sayama tea!

To get straight to the point, Sayama tea refers to a tea-growing region. It is considered a specialty of Saitama Prefecture, grown in the Sayama Hills, and is one of Japan’s three most famous teas, alongside Shizuoka and Uji teas.

Where in Saitama is Sayama tea produced?

The area enclosed in red on the map below corresponds to the Sayama Hills.

Looking at the map, the area outlined in red spans both Saitama and Tokyo. Therefore, Sayama tea is also produced in Tokyo, where it’s known as “Tokyo Sayama Tea” and is recognized as a specialty product of Tokyo. Because Sayama tea is grown further north compared to major tea regions like Shizuoka, Kyoto, and Kagoshima, it is considered to be cultivated in a relatively colder tea-producing area.

What are the taste and aroma characteristics of Sayama Tea?

The defining characteristics of Sayama tea include its rich, deep flavor that comes from the thick tea leaves, which have endured the harsh winter, and the roasted aroma produced by the final processing technique known as “Sayama Hiire” (Sayama roasting).

Recommended Sayama Tea

If you’re curious to try Sayama tea, this particular tea is highly recommended.

This product, which comes in a convenient tea bag format with a small quantity, is reasonably priced and perfect for trying out Sayama tea. One unique feature is the “Tea Postcard” — the back of the tea packaging is designed to be used as a postcard. If you enjoy Sayama tea, you can write your address on the postcard and send it to someone special!

In this article, we answered simple questions about Sayama tea. Compared to other tea-producing regions, Sayama tea has developed its own unique qualities, and when you look deeper, you’ll find it’s packed with charm. Stay tuned as we explore questions like “What is Sayama Hiire?” and “What kind of tea is Sayamakaori?”