Nara Specialty goods

The High-quality Taste and Fragrance of

Yamato-cha Tea

Tea produced in Nara prefecture is called Yamato-cha and it is grown primarily around the Yamato Highlands, which spans the east areas of Nara City. Its origin is old going back to 806 when Kobo Daishi (Kukai) brought back tea seeds from China (Tang Dynasty) and sowed them at Butsuryuji Temple (currently in the area of Haibara-akabane Uda City, Nara), cultivating tea for the first time. The altitude of the Yamato Highlands where the tea is produced is 300 - 600 meters high, and from the drastic difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures, morning fog which is most suitable for growing occurs frequently. The fog provides the tea leaves with an ideal humidity while at the same time mildly interrupting the sunlight, which helps the tea leaves grow sweet and supple. As the tea leaves grow slowly in areas with high elevations, the sweetness of the tea increases, and the fragrance becomes richer than teas grown in lower areas, and thus a superb tea can be made.

Decorating the Ancient Capital Nara

Kotoka (Strawberries)

Nara, which breathes history and culture, is one of the best production sites for strawberries in the Kansai area. Amongst Nara strawberries, "Kotoka" strawberries, a variety developed in Nara prefecture, whose variety was registered in 2011, is currently the most remarkable brand. The name was given with the wish that strawberries would decorate the ancient capital of Nara, becoming the new “flower” of the city (the name means “ancient-capital-flower”). The distinctive characteristics of this fruit are its deep, red color and the gloss of its skin. The sugar content and sourness is well balanced, and a prominant aroma and rich flavor can be enjoyed.

The Originating Area of Seishu, “Nara’s”

Sake

As there is a saying, "Nara-style is the origin of styles of sake brewing," Nara has been known from days of old as the primary place for sake brewing.

Particularly in Shorekiji Temple, located in the suburbs of Nara city, there is a record remaining, showing that the basic brewing techniques which led to the current brewing methods were established in the Muromachi Period, and Seishu-bodaisen (literally “refined sake enlightenment-spring”) was being sold. This tells us that Nara is the originator of seishu (refined sake).

Around "Naramachi" where the atmosphere of the late Edo Period and Meiji Period float in the air, there are numerous shops where one can enjoy the local sake of Nara.

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