Living in Japan for several years, I the Japanese culture is instilled within my system, especially having tea as a staple in my daily living. It has been my parents’ ritual to share a cup of black tea at 7 in the morning every day. Watching them throw their everything into enjoying the moment made me want to experience it again and again. And now that I’m living independently, I get to reminisce about all the memories by drinking a cup of black tea or wagoucha every morning.
I disliked the taste of black tea upon tasting. However, it grew on me. Wagoucha, or black tea, is smooth, light, a tad sour, and lacking any bitter taste. Also, it has a delightful floral taste that lingers along with some notes of warm spices that makes it perfect to have every morning.
I remember my mom talking about the origin of black tea. According to her, it was the 7th century when teas were first introduced in Japan, and only green tea was produced and consumed back then. However, during the Meiji Era, the first black tea was produced, but it wasn’t for local consumption. It was meant to be exported to compete with the Indian, Sri Lankan, and Chinese tea markets. However, they couldn’t contend with their teas, so the black teas were abandoned.
This made me remember a joke that my dad made one morning. While sipping tea, he asked us: “What happened to black tea when earl gray became more popular?” When we didn’t answer, he laughed and said, “It became minoritea!” Looking back, I think that during this era, black tea indeed became a minori-tea.
Nevertheless, some farmers were determined to produce black teas again. Yet this time, it wasn’t meant to compete—it is to be chartered for tea enthusiasts and connoisseurs who acknowledge the refined sweet, light, and gentle tea. Moreover, tea is often utilized within the prefecture where it is manufactured rather than sold in further prefectures. This allows people to experience the exciting opportunity of tasting local teas and visiting various prefectures. Shizuoka prefecture, in particular, is not only famous for cultivating green tea, but also for producing quality black teas.
Additionally, black tea has numerous health benefits! The major benefits of black tea include its nutritional value, anti-cancer benefits, digestive benefits, beneficial effects on skin and hair health, and much more. Along with those benefits, it contains antioxidants, which can boost heart health, improve gut health, reduce blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, lower blood sugar levels, and improve focus.
When I wasn’t much of a black tea enthusiast, I always wondered why my parents love drinking it every morning. But after learning its benefits, I was awestruck. How can you obtain such health benefits in a simple pack of tea that is simple to prepare? Simply put the teabag in the mug and add some boiling water, then, voila! All these health benefits, along with its calming effects, are served in one mug.
