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Well, let me tell ya about this Japanese black tea, or whatever they call it, wakoucha. I ain’t no fancy tea expert, mind you, just an old woman who likes a good cuppa.

What is this Wakoucha stuff anyway?

So, this wakoucha, it’s black tea, but from Japan. You know, like how they got all that green tea over there. Seems they make black tea too, though they don’t make a whole lot of it, I hear. Someone told me it’s kinda rare. But rare don’t mean bad, right? Sometimes the best things ain’t easy to find.

They call it “koucha” over there, which means red tea. Don’t ask me why, sounds like those city folks and their funny ways. But if it’s made in Japan, they call it “kokusan koucha” or “jikoucha,” or, if it’s real fancy-like, they call it “wakoucha.” That’s the one everyone’s talking about these days.

How’s it different from other teas?

Now, I ain’t tasted every tea under the sun, but this wakoucha, it’s got its own thing going on. They say it’s different from that green tea they got, and different from other black teas too. Flavor and smell, that’s what they say. I guess it’s like apples, you got your red ones, your green ones, and they all taste a little different.

• Green tea is kinda grassy, you know?
• Regular black tea, well, that’s just… black tea. Strong, sometimes bitter.
• But this wakoucha, they say it’s got a somethin’ special. Maybe a little sweeter, maybe not so bitter. I don’t know the fancy words for it.

Making and Drinking Wakoucha

Making tea ain’t rocket science. You heat up some water, not too hot, not too cold, just right. Then you put in your tea leaves, let it sit for a bit, and then you drink it. Some folks like to add milk and sugar, make it all sweet and creamy. They call that milk tea, I reckon. Me? I like it plain, but to each their own, I say.

I heard folks over in Japan drink a whole lotta black tea. Heard they drank almost 15 thousand tons of it in 2022, though I ain’t never seen that much tea in my life. And they like their milk tea, just like some folks here. Seems like people everywhere like a little sweetness in their lives.

Where do they grow this wakoucha stuff?

Now, this part gets a little fuzzy. I don’t know the names of all them fancy places over in Japan. But I hear they grow it in different spots, and each spot makes a tea that tastes a little different. Kinda like how the tomatoes from my garden taste different from the ones you get at the store. Soil, sun, rain… it all matters, I guess.

Is it worth all the fuss?

Well, that depends on who you ask. Some folks like fancy things, some folks like plain things. Me? I like things that taste good. And if this wakoucha tastes good, then it’s worth a try, ain’t it? You can’t know till you taste it.

Finding Wakoucha

Finding this tea might be a bit tricky though. Like I said, it ain’t common as dirt. You probably won’t find it at your regular store. You might have to go to one of them fancy tea shops or look online. But if you’re curious, you’ll find a way. Just like finding a good berry patch, you gotta know where to look.

In Conclusion

So, that’s the story on this Japanese black tea, or wakoucha. It’s black tea from Japan, it’s a bit rare, and it tastes different. If you like tea, give it a try. If you don’t, well, more for me, I say. Life’s too short to drink bad tea, or to worry too much about things you don’t understand.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go put the kettle on.

Tags: [Japanese Black Tea, Wakoucha, Koucha, Japanese Tea, Black Tea, Tea Cultivars, Tea Processing, Tea Flavor, Tea Aroma, Tea History, Rare Tea]