新茶の葉が青々と育っている。
昨日、近江茶を育てる農家さんから写真が届いた。
先日、八十八夜が過ぎ茶摘みシーズンに入った。新茶を摘み、ほぼ一年間保存し市場に出回る。

New tea leaves are growing well.
Yesterday, I received a photo from a farmer who grows Omi tea.
The other day, 88 nights have passed and the tea-picking season has begun. 

いまの新茶というのは昨年に摘まれたもの。一年間の熟成を経てしっかりした甘みに渋みが加わりまろやかな味になっている。
新茶から二ヶ月弱して二番茶、そしてそのあと一ヶ月後くらいに三番茶を摘む。

Today's new tea was picked last year. After ferment for 1 year, the astringency is added to the firm sweetness to give a mellow taste.
The farmer picked the second tea less than two months after the new tea, and then picked the third tea about a month later.

一つの茶の木から、数々の種類のお茶が生産される。摘む時期や摘む葉、茎、そして陽を浴びたもの、陽を遮断して育てたもの、さらに手揉みしたもの、機械揉みしたもの、などなどいろんな種類に商品化されていく。
もうすぐ新茶が店頭に並ぶ。新茶を心待ちにしているお茶好きには嬉しい季節である。

Many types of tea are produced from one tea tree. It will be commercialized in various types such as the time of picking, the leaves to be picked, the stem, and those that are exposed to the sun, those that have been raised without the sun, and those that have been hand-rubbed and those that have been mechanically rubbed.
Soon new tea will be lined up in stores. This is a great season for tea lovers who are looking forward to new tea.

Reported by Yuji Watanabe