Atatakai Ocha [温かいお茶] by Downscope
Tea is the most commonly drunk beverage in Japan and an important part of Japanese food culture. Various types of tea are widely available and consumed at any point of the day. Green tea is the most common type of tea, and when someone mentions "tea" (お茶, ocha) without specifying the type, it is green tea to which is referred. Green tea is also the central element of the tea ceremony. Among the most well-known places for tea cultivation are Shizuoka, Kagoshima and Uji.
Tea of one kind or another, hot or cold, can be found practically at all restaurants, vending machines, kiosks, convenience stores and supermarkets.
At restaurants, green tea is often served with or at the end of a meal for free. At lower end restaurants, green tea or mugicha tend to be available free for self-service, while konacha is commonly provided at inexpensive sushi restaurants. Kocha is usually available alongside coffee at cafes and Western restaurants.
At some temples and gardens, tea (usually ryokucha or matcha) is served to tourists. The tea is typically served in a tranquil tatami room with views onto beautiful scenery, often together with an accompanying Japanese sweet. While the tea is sometimes included in the temple's or garden's admission fee, it more often requires a separate fee of a few hundred yen.
Last but not least, many types of tea are sold in PET bottles and cans at stores and vending machines across Japan. They are available both hot or cold, although hot tea is less widely available during the summer months, especially at vending machines.
This album is a tribute to both the cultural and ceremonial aspects of Japanese tea as well as the spiritual nature of hot tea in general. Many cups of tea were brewed during the process of creating this album and a significant mix of teas were used, including some teas from other parts of the world. I hope my recent resurgence in tea consumption and appreciation of tea can be felt via the sounds and atmospheres delicately steeped to create Atatakai Ocha [温かいお茶].
Credits
Music by Rimas Campe
Cover photo by Saitowitz
Tea ceremony voice featured in "Shincha" by ぴんぐーP
Background tea information cited from japan-guide.com
© 2019 alternating.bit music
