Matcha: The Japanese Tea Game Created by Ruth Paget
The story of tea in Japan is largely one of green tea. However, this does not mean that learning about green tea is simple. Production methods and processing are more important here than terroirs (production areas) and cultivars (tea varieties akin to grape varieties in wine making). Terroirs and cultivars are less important in Japan than in China, but are still mentioned for higher priced teas.
Game Objectives:
1-Know the Japanese terroirs (production areas)
2-Know the Japanese tea cultivars (tea varieties akin to grape varieties used in winemaking)
3-Know the senchado steeping process
4-Know matcha preparation steps
5-Know the nine main tea categories based on production and processing
6-Know the Top 10 Japanese Tea Branchs
7-Reward – Drinking a Matcha and reading about the Japanese tea ceremony
Materials needed:
-The book Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne, François Marchand, Jasmin Desharnair, and Hugo Americi
-pen
-index cards
- large and small
-notebook paper
-matcha drink as a reward
Game 1: Know the Japanese Tea Terroirs
There are 4 main Japanese tea terroirs:
-Shizuoka Prefecture
-Kyoto Prefecture
-Kagoshima Prefecture (Island of Kyushu)
-Nara and Mie Prefectures
Use 4 index cards to note these production regions on the front of the index card. One the back of the index card, note in your own words where these regions are located and their characteristics.
Quiz yourself till you perfectly know this information.
Game 2: Know the Japanese Tea Cultivars
A cultivar is similar to grape variety or varietal in wine making.
There are four main tea cultivars in Japan:
-Yabukita
-Gokou
-Beni Fouki
-Samidori
Write the names of these cultivars on the front of the four index cards. Note on the back of the index cards, the characteristics of each in your own words.
Quiz yourself till you about each varietal.
Game 3: Know the Senchado Steeping Process
There are 6 main steps for steeping Japanese green tea.
Number the steps on index cards and describe the step in your own words. On the back of the index card, not the process step number.
Quiz yourself by looking at the step number and describing what the step entails.
Game 4: Know Matcha Preparation Steps
There are 4 main steps needed to prepare matcha.
Use index cards to note what happens in each step. On the back of the index card, note the step number.
Quiz yourself by step number till you have memorized the process for making matcha.
Game 5: Know Japanese Tea Categories
These categories refer to green teas with specific production methods and processing of the tea leaves.
The main tea categories follow:
-sencha
-bancha
-hojicha
-genmaicha
-tamaryokucha
-gyokuro
-kabusecha
-matcha
Note these names on the front of index cards. On the back of the index cards, describe the characteristics of the tea in your own words.
Quiz yourself on these terms till you know them.
Game 6: Know To Japanese Tea Brands
On the front of an index card, note the tea brand name. On the back of the index card, note the tea family (usually green), translation of the tea name, production area or terroir, harvest season, and cultivar.
Quiz yourself on one characteristic at a time for all 10 tea brands till you know them. Then, move on to quizzing yourself on the next characteristic for all 10 tea brands.
Game 7: Reward
Drink a matcha tea drink and read about the Japanese Tea Ceremony tradition in Tea: History Terroirs Varieties by Kevin Gascoyne et al.
Extra credit: Know the 13 Production Steps to Make Japanese Green Tea
List the 13 production steps on index cards and describe the steps in your own words on the back of the index card.
Quiz yourself till you know each steps. Learn the steps 3 steps at a time before before moving on to the next three.
Happy Gaming!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
