Ahead of the new tea season, Yame City in Fukuoka Prefecture hosted the 41st annual “Yame Tea Hand-Rolling Competition” on April 15, highlighting traditional tea-processing techniques. The event featured young producers under the age of 40 who competed in teams of three to manually roll steamed tea leaves over five hours, with judges evaluating their technique and final product quality.
While most tea production today is mechanized, hand-rolling produces a more refined appearance and flavor due to the delicate process. In December 2024, this traditional method was registered as a National Intangible Cultural Property. This year’s tea is said to have developed slowly and richly due to colder weather in February and March. The winning team will represent Fukuoka at the national competition in Shizuoka this November. Source: KBC
Photo from Fukuoka Prefecture Tea Industry Promotion and Promotion Council official
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