Tea-Picking Festival Held on 300-Year-Old Giant Tea Tree in Shizuoka
Theo www.asahi.com
On the 88th day after the start of spring, known as 'Hachijuuhachiya,' residents and the tea preservation society in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, harvested tea from the 'Fujieda no Oocha,' an ancient tea tree estimated to be over 300 years old and the oldest in the prefecture. The harvested buds are believed to be of the highest quality and bring good luck.
On May 2 (the 88th day after the beginning of spring, called "Hachijuuhachiya"), about 30 people, including members of the Fujieda Hand-Roasted Tea Preservation Society and local residents, erected tall scaffolding inside and around the ancient tea tree "Fujieda no Oocha" (located in the Setonoya area, Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture) to pick the first tea buds of the season.
According to local tradition, tea buds picked on the exact day of "Hachijuuhachiya" are believed to be of the highest quality and bring good luck. This ancient tea tree is over 300 years old, making it the oldest tea tree in Shizuoka Prefecture. The tree stands about 3 meters tall with a canopy over 10 meters wide, yielding an average of 80 to 100 kilograms of fresh tea leaves each year.
Local authorities stated that preserving and maintaining the harvesting activity on this giant tree is not only important culturally and historically but also aims to educate younger generations about the value of traditional tea cultivation. After harvesting, the fresh tea leaves are processed by hand and sold under the brand "Fujieda Giant Tree Tea," with proceeds used to fund tree preservation and promote local agricultural tourism.
