The Long And Winding Road

"And still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door."
- The Long And Winding Road / The Beatles 1969

One of my favourite songs is The Long & Winding Road by The Beatles. My tea adventure is like that long and winding road in the picture and the song. Like being left alone and waiting.

Top picture is of Jun Chiyabari in June 2002 and the bottom picture is of the same scene in July 2010. Finally the tea bushes have started to mature and the area looks nice and green. We seem to be making fairly good teas as per our customers. It has really been a long hard struggle to get to this point on the long winding road.

As the poet Robert Frost wrote, "But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep", so too with me. So too with us.

Kakegawa Soba 蕎麦

Buckwheat noodles (Soba / 蕎麦 in Japanese) is a special favourite of mine. Here, in a secluded section behind a big pane of glass, a lone young lady in a noodle shop in Kakegawa makes soba from the scratch. That is, by grinding the buckwheat into flour and then making the noodles and all the steps in between. Thankfully a stone mill is being used rather than one made of steel or other metals. I am certain that Kakegawa city is not famous for its soba but the soba in this cafe was delicious. Or maybe it was the hunger. Kakegawa is much more famous for its green tea.

Seezunge, Hamburg

Hamburg is really the centre of tea in Europe because of its history. It is supposed to be the loveliest city in Germany. One can see the wealth from its trading culture quite easily all around the city. For me it was the place where I had one of the most delicious sea foods: Seezunge (Sole/Flounder in English Hirame/平目 in Japanese) at this marvellous restaurant (Fischereihafen Restaurant) overlooking the harbour. Great tea after the meal too. Naturally ! This is Hamburg, the centre for tea in Europe.

Many From One

It is truly amazing that one tea plant, Camellia sinensis, can produce so many different flavours, colours and aroma. Not to speak of so many types of tea. This picture shows a sample of different types of teas produced by Jun Chiyabari in all their colourful glory. Today, April 14 is Nepali new year so wish all of you Happy New Year 2068.

Himalayan Spring

New spring tea from the Himalaya. A fresh yet delicate, indeed almost fragile, light, fruity-lemony tea with a really beautiful pale yellow liquor. The leaves of this tea came from an altitude of about 1800 metres. This seems to be a good start to the 2011 tea season. However, as they say, the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. Until the customers around the world give their verdict this description means nothing

Dedicated To

11 November 1855 Ansei Edo earthquake with a death toll of 7000 people was followed by cholera outbreak in 1858 where more than 100,000 died and a fire at Edo castle in 1860. 01 September 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake caused 100,000-140,000 deaths.

Each of these tragedies including the tragedy of the 1940's war was followed by a great revival and renewal in Japan to make it stronger and better than before. After the 11 March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake it is time for the young of Japan to step up and deliver like their parents and grand-parents did and make it a better and stronger place.

No doubt the young ones, represented by these two very young girls photographed few days before 11 March 2011 will make it happen in the coming years. Having known Japan and having loved it, its people and culture for these many years I have no doubt about a great renewal there.