Green Tea Day

What Is Green Tea Day?

Every year on May 2nd (in non-leap years) is "Green Tea Day," established by the Central Council for the Japanese Tea Industry. It is tied to "hachijuhachiya," the seasonal marker falling on the 88th day counting from the start of spring (risshun), long considered the peak of tea-picking season. According to tradition, drinking new tea picked on this day brings good health for the whole year. Because hachijuhachiya shifts from year to year, Green Tea Day is fixed on May 2nd in regular years and May 1st in leap years. It's a day to savor this year's "shincha" (new tea) and enjoy Japan's traditional tea culture.

The History of Hachijuhachiya and Tea Culture

Tea has developed as far more than a beverage -- it's deeply tied to Japanese daily life and the changing seasons.

• The significance of "88": The kanji for "88" (八十八) can be combined to form the character for "rice" (米). In farming, this time of year has long been an important milestone, when the risk of late frost drops and sowing and preparing rice seedbeds get underway.
• Eisai and the "Kissa Yojoki": In the Kamakura period, the monk Eisai brought tea seeds and the customs of tea drinking back from Song-dynasty China, and wrote the "Kissa Yojoki" (Drinking Tea for Health), regarded as Japan's first book devoted to tea. As its opening line says, "tea is the elixir of health," and tea was originally prized as an aid to religious practice and as medicine.

"Green Tea Week" and the Pleasures of New Tea

The days around Green Tea Day are also a season of tea-related events across Japan.

• Green Tea Week: The Central Council for the Japanese Tea Industry designates the week from April 29 (Showa Day) to May 5 (Children's Day) as "Green Tea Week." Tea-picking experiences and new-tea tastings are held nationwide around this time.
• The taste of first-flush tea: The first tea picked each year (ichibancha) is said to contain more of the amino acids behind its umami, such as theanine, than later harvests, giving it a fresh aroma and gentle sweetness.

Interesting Facts About Green Tea

• The "mirui" taste of new tea: "Mirui" is a dialect word used in Shizuoka and elsewhere meaning "soft and young." The buds of new tea are very tender, giving it a fresh aroma unique to this season.
• Is it all the same tea plant?: Sencha, hojicha, oolong tea, and black tea are all made from the leaves of the same plant -- Camellia sinensis. The differences in flavor come from the degree of fermentation and processing methods.
• A standing tea stem is good luck: A tea stem floating upright in the cup, called a "chabashira," has long been considered a lucky sign. One theory says tea merchants spread the idea to sell second-flush tea that contained more stems.
• The pleasure of ice-brewed tea: Brewing tea slowly with ice or cold water draws out less of the catechins and caffeine behind its astringency, making the umami and sweetness easier to taste.
• Tea in the Heian period: Japanese records note that in 815, early in the Heian period, the monk Eichu served tea to Emperor Saga -- nearly 400 years before Eisai.

Tips for Spending Green Tea Day

• To mark "May 2nd, Green Tea Day," pick up this year's new tea. Brewing it carefully in a teapot offers a breather from the busyness of the new fiscal year. Enjoy the fresh aroma of young leaves.
• Try pairing green tea with sweets. Traditional Japanese sweets like yokan are classic, but green tea's astringency also pairs surprisingly well with chocolate or cheese. Look for your own "perfect pairing."
• Compare different brewing methods. Try hot water, lukewarm water, and ice brewing to see how the aroma and astringency of the same leaves change -- a fun way to discover the depth of tea.
• Give someone special some "shincha" (new tea), along with the traditional saying that "drinking hachijuhachiya tea brings a long life," as a way to wish them good health.

The Fragrance of Young Leaves Rising From the Teapot Gives a Busy Day Room to Breathe

May 2nd is a day to savor "green tea," nurtured by Japan's climate and land, and to take good care of yourself. Just as new tea sprouts fresh after surviving the winter, the efforts you've made during your first month in a new environment are probably starting to take shape. Pausing to brew a cup of tea amid a busy day -- that quiet moment can help organize your thoughts and nudge you toward your next step. Share the comfort of a cup of tea with those around you, and start May feeling refreshed.