This year's TSUYU rainy season started around June 9 and ended around June 27 in Kyoto, which was the earliest in recorded history since 1951. The rainy season was only 18 days long; the second shortest on the record. The rainfall amount from July to the middle of August was much less than usual. So, we farmers have been concerned. However, we had plenty of rainfall for a week or more since around August 10. We are relieved!

In July and August, the summer heat was intense all over Japan. In a few areas, the temperature reached more than 38C (100F) and broke the record for the highest temperature. Even Kyoto reached above 37C (96F). The heat is lasting longer than usual this year as well.
After the second harvest in July, the tea trees need plentiful water to revive the tea sprouts and to store water in the leaves. This year, there are some tea trees which have not revived enough. Yet even those tea trees will revive when they eventually receive enough water.
Overall, this summer was not too severe for tea trees, though we hope we will have enough rain in autumn.

The weather typically starts getting cooler in the early morning and at night in Ujitawara, Kyoto around August 15, after the OBON religious festival. The weather forecast says that this coming September will be a bit hotter than usual and will have the same amount of rainfall as usual. Tea trees need plenty of rainfall in autumn. It greatly affects the next year's Shincha harvest. Farmers pray that the much-anticipated autumn rain will bring vitality to the tea trees.

Autumn is going to be on its way soon and so are our seasonal autumn Kuradashi teas. Following traditional methods, our Kuradashi teas have been enriched in wooden boxes in the granary for one and a half years, since last May, and will be ready in a few more weeks.
The deepened mellow and noble flavor of enriched Kuradashi Gyokuro and Kuradashi Matcha will be available in mid-autumn. Please wait and see!

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  Tea trees under the TANA canopy are shaded sparsely to avoid intense heat.

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  These tea leaves are unfortunately partially damaged by the intense heat. Yet, new sprouts will grow vigorously, even on these tea trees, next spring because of their innate hardiness, and appropriate management from the tea farmer.

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  Tea trees, which are innately strong against bad weather conditions, overcame this severe climate.

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  Can you hear murmuring of brook. It makes you cool in the sweltering hot day.

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  Dragonfly is also like cooling off above the brook.

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  It's relatively cool today because of YUDACHI shower. (28C / 84F at 10:00AM on Aug. 25)
  Autumn is almost around the corner.

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  Our Kuradashi teas have been aged in the granary by the traditional way since last year's May.

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  Kuradashi teas enriched in wooden boxes.