Stopping for a moment to admire the flowers is one of the most beautiful moments of spring. Appreciating spring is common all over the world, but it is especially celebrated in Japanese culture. Every spring, cherry blossoms, or sakura, bloom all over Japan starting in mid-March. People from all over the world visit Japan to take part in this long-awaited and awe-inspiring experience.
Hanami, which translates to “flower watching” or “flower viewing,” is an integral part of Japanese culture. Want to learn more about the Hanami festival and how it inspired our most beautiful tea yet? Choose your favorite beverage and read on.
What is Hanami?
Hanami is the spring tradition of admiring the sakura season in Japan. Sakura flowers are symbolic to the people of Japan as they symbolize hope and new life. Sakura is the embodiment of beauty and the transience of life itself.
Once the sakura trees bloom in all their glory, the blossoms begin to fall within a few weeks. At this time of year, people gather to socialize, picnic, eat, drink, and barbecue while enjoying the splendor of the cherry blossoms.
History of Hamani and Sakura
The hanami tradition dates back to ancient Japan, when farmers used the blossom season as a signal to plant rice. The first records of flower viewing date from the Nara period, roughly between 710 and 794 A.D. C. At first, people admired the Asian plum blossoms, or ume. But the beauty of sakura gained more attention, and hanami became associated with cherry blossoms. (Although the ume are still very beautiful individually!)
Hanami was first used to describe sakura viewing in the Heian-era novel The Tale of Genji. Believing that the trees held sacred powers, people made offerings and ended the ritual with sake. Emperor Saga of the Heian period continued this practice, hosting flower-viewing parties and banquets under the blooming sakura trees in Kyoto.
Sakura in Modern Japan
The Hanami festival has become a beautiful celebration in modern-day Japan. When the sakura blooms in Japan, it signals the beginning of spring. People come together to celebrate this heavenly time by visiting parks and admiring the beauty of the sakura. Celebrations are held throughout Japan, featuring everything from desserts and green tea to music and art.
Cherry Blossom Bloom Times
Hanami reminds us that life is short for the Japanese. In early March, the magnificent pink and white cherry blossoms fill parks and riverbanks across Japan. Within a few weeks, the gorgeous petals begin to fall.
Every year, Japan releases a cherry blossom forecast. Bloom times depend on the region, and the first cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo in mid-March. In the northernmost prefectures of Hokkaido and Sapporo, the last blossoms usually bloom in the last week of April, and sometimes even in May!
Types of Cherry Trees in Japan
Did you know that there are more than 200 types of cherry blossom trees in Japan? Cherry blossom trees can vary depending on the climate and region, but with only slight variations in color and shape, it can be difficult to tell the differences between them. These are just a few of the amazing cherry blossom trees:
- Somei Yoshino. Somei Yoshino makes up nearly 80% of the cherry trees in Japan. They typically bloom in late March and last between a week and about 10 days. Somei Yoshino have traditional light pink flowers with five tiny petals. The best places to see somei yoshino include Taito-ku, Tokyo and Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture.
- Shidare Zakura. Widely known as weeping cherries, shidare zakura trees are prized for their majestic hanging branches and variety of white, light pink and dark pink flowers. Shidare Zakura also have quite a long lifespan of around 300 years. There is even a shidare zakura in Fukushima that is 1,000 years old!
- Yaezakura. Yaezakura are some of the most unique sakura trees with differences you won’t miss. Also known as a double-flowered cherry blossom, each blossom can have between 10 and 50 petals. The bright pink, light pink and white leaves can also be enjoyed for a month, from mid-April to mid-May. You can enjoy mesmerizing views of Yaezakura in Osaka Prefecture and Nara Park in Nara Prefecture.
- Yamazakura. Native to Japan, these sakura trees usually grow in the mountainous regions of Honshu. Yamazakura, like Somei Yoshino, has five small petals of white and light pink flowers. Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of these beauties.
Sakura Sencha
Hanami is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and green tea is no exception. Delicious and aromatic sakura petals combine effortlessly with sencha, capturing the spirit of spring. Our Sakura Sencha brings the essence of hanami into your home so you can enjoy the abundance of spring.
Mizuba Sakura Sencha
Our Sakura Sencha is reminiscent of spring’s most beautiful moments. We’ve blended Yabukita variety sencha with the popular Yaezakura sakura blossoms to create a fresh umami with a smooth, sweet cherry blossom flavor. Each sip offers a harmonious balance of umami and sweetness with a deep, round cherry blossom flavor.
Yabukita Sencha is left in the shade for a few days to enhance the sweetness before being steamed, rolled and lightly dried. Each sakura flower is carefully hand-picked and dried. Sencha and sakura come together to create a delicate combination of beauty and flavor.
How to enjoy Sakura Sencha
A well-prepared Sakura Sencha evokes spring feelings any time of year. We recommend steeping 5g of Sakura Sencha in 180ml of water at 165°F for 1.5 minutes for a perfect brew.
Enjoy the abundance of spring
The Hanami tradition encourages us to take a moment to admire the beauty of nature. The glorious power emanating from the sakura reminds you to enjoy every exquisite experience in life to the fullest.
Every time we take a moment to enjoy the peace and serenity of drinking tea, we honor this tradition. Are you ready to enjoy the abundance of spring? Try our Sakura Sencha and upgrade your daily sip.
