A Hidden Gem of Japan’s Tea Regions: Nagasaki Teas—History and Tasting
Description

We warmly welcome Marjolein from Ikedoki Tea, who will bring tea and stories from Nagasaki to TeeMaa & Muyō.

Marjolein began her tea journey ten years ago and has now been working with tea and living in Nagasaki, Japan, for the past 2.5 years. Together with creative tea visionary Yasuharu Matsumoto (known as Matsu), Marjolein forms Ikedoki Tea—a project that combines tea tourism, education, and tea sales. Their work focuses on promoting teas from the Nagasaki region and putting this somewhat hidden tea area back on the map.

Ikedoki Tea enjoys exploring different tea producers and uncovering hidden tea gems to share with a wider audience. Their mission is to share a more peaceful world through Japanese tea from Nagasaki, while supporting tea farmers, producers, and other local businesses.

This weekend, Marjolein will take us on a tea journey, guiding us through tastings of delicious teas from the farmers she has been working with.

Part 1: Nagasaki Teas & History

Saturday, 13:00–15:00

Nagasaki has played a vital role in Japan’s tea history. The first teas that arrived in Japan passed through Nagasaki, and centuries later, the first documented tea to reach Europe in 1610 also came from this region.

What teas will be tasted:

During this workshop, Marjolein will share stories about the tea producers she has discovered so far, while guiding participants through tastings that showcase the rich diversity of their teas. The focus will be on tamaryokucha, Nagasaki’s signature tea, but we will also taste and compare kamairicha, hōjicha, and wakōcha.

 

Part 2: Diving into a Niche Category — Wakōcha from Nagasaki

Sunday, 13:00–15:00

This workshop celebrates a very niche category of tea: wakōcha (Japanese black tea).

Did you know that Japan produces about 1% of the world’s tea?
Nagasaki, one of Japan’s smaller tea regions, produces about 1% of Japan’s tea.
And almost all of Nagasaki’s share is green tea—specifically tamaryokucha, the region’s specialty.

If we zoom in even further, black tea production in Nagasaki is so small that a 2023 industry overview of Japanese black tea lists a blank space next to Nagasaki. A call to the Nagasaki Tea Research Centre revealed that there are no official figures available—they simply do not track the numbers.

Despite these tiny percentages and blank spaces, interest in wakōcha is steadily growing. Some recent articles even speak of a Japanese Black Tea Renaissance. The Jikōcha Society (jikōcha meaning local black tea) has been holding black tea summits across Japan almost every year since 2002. In 2023, they proudly announced that there is now at least one black tea producer in every prefecture in Japan—including Nagasaki, where 19 farmers are currently producing wakōcha.

What teas will be tasted: 

In this session, Marjolein will share insights into the history of Japanese black tea, introduce the Nagasaki region, and showcase a rich diversity of wakōcha from different farmers. From the Sonogi tea area all the way to Tsushima Island, we will taste teas that reflect an emerging “standard” wakōcha flavour profile, alongside exciting experiments such as roasted black tea and even a hand-picked autumn black tea.

A Hidden Gem of Japan’s Tea Regions: Nagasaki Teas—History and Tasting
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Description

We warmly welcome Marjolein from Ikedoki Tea, who will bring tea and stories from Nagasaki to TeeMaa & Muyō.

Marjolein began her tea journey ten years ago and has now been working with tea and living in Nagasaki, Japan, for the past 2.5 years. Together with creative tea visionary Yasuharu Matsumoto (known as Matsu), Marjolein forms Ikedoki Tea—a project that combines tea tourism, education, and tea sales. Their work focuses on promoting teas from the Nagasaki region and putting this somewhat hidden tea area back on the map.

Ikedoki Tea enjoys exploring different tea producers and uncovering hidden tea gems to share with a wider audience. Their mission is to share a more peaceful world through Japanese tea from Nagasaki, while supporting tea farmers, producers, and other local businesses.

This weekend, Marjolein will take us on a tea journey, guiding us through tastings of delicious teas from the farmers she has been working with.

Part 1: Nagasaki Teas & History

Saturday, 13:00–15:00

Nagasaki has played a vital role in Japan’s tea history. The first teas that arrived in Japan passed through Nagasaki, and centuries later, the first documented tea to reach Europe in 1610 also came from this region.

What teas will be tasted:

During this workshop, Marjolein will share stories about the tea producers she has discovered so far, while guiding participants through tastings that showcase the rich diversity of their teas. The focus will be on tamaryokucha, Nagasaki’s signature tea, but we will also taste and compare kamairicha, hōjicha, and wakōcha.

 

Part 2: Diving into a Niche Category — Wakōcha from Nagasaki

Sunday, 13:00–15:00

This workshop celebrates a very niche category of tea: wakōcha (Japanese black tea).

Did you know that Japan produces about 1% of the world’s tea?
Nagasaki, one of Japan’s smaller tea regions, produces about 1% of Japan’s tea.
And almost all of Nagasaki’s share is green tea—specifically tamaryokucha, the region’s specialty.

If we zoom in even further, black tea production in Nagasaki is so small that a 2023 industry overview of Japanese black tea lists a blank space next to Nagasaki. A call to the Nagasaki Tea Research Centre revealed that there are no official figures available—they simply do not track the numbers.

Despite these tiny percentages and blank spaces, interest in wakōcha is steadily growing. Some recent articles even speak of a Japanese Black Tea Renaissance. The Jikōcha Society (jikōcha meaning local black tea) has been holding black tea summits across Japan almost every year since 2002. In 2023, they proudly announced that there is now at least one black tea producer in every prefecture in Japan—including Nagasaki, where 19 farmers are currently producing wakōcha.

What teas will be tasted: 

In this session, Marjolein will share insights into the history of Japanese black tea, introduce the Nagasaki region, and showcase a rich diversity of wakōcha from different farmers. From the Sonogi tea area all the way to Tsushima Island, we will taste teas that reflect an emerging “standard” wakōcha flavour profile, alongside exciting experiments such as roasted black tea and even a hand-picked autumn black tea.

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