Eli Tea x Shiga Japan
Partnership
Over the past year I have been working closely with the Shiga prefectural government to establish new channels of tea sourcing through the Michgian-Shiga Sister state program.
Shiga prefecture is located in between the major cities of Nagoyo and Kyoto. The region is mountainous but most well known in Japan for it’s famous freshwater lake, Lake Biwa. The fresh water from this lake gives rise to an abundance of agricultural products including tea production!
May of 2018, I was invited to visit the Shinga region by the Michigan-Shinga Sister State Program to explore the region and learn, first-hand, from Japanese tea farmers about their process, distribution and care-taking of various types of tea. The articles below were two Japanese publications that featured myself and the Eli Tea Bar store and process. See the articles below to learn more.
Chunichi Publication | September 2018
I had the honor of creating a special fusion drink from coconut water and Shiga Matcha green tea. This drink was served to a Shiga government delegation visiting Michigan.
You can find the drink on our menu today as the Coconut Matcha H20.
Kyoto Publication | September 2018
This was another Japanese feature mentioning our direct import of tea from Shiga and the Michigan-Shiga 50th year sister state anniversary.
Taste testing matcha on Japanese TV.
Here I am training with a Japanese tea master on the ways to “Enjoy Japanese Tea”
Here I am with a real live Japanese tea farmer.
Through the Michigan-Japan sister state program we are working to introduce premium Japanese tea harvests
Fresh Japanese loose leaf teas.
Exploring the beautiful tea farm.
