Mention matcha tea, and many people think of Kyoto and its Uji matcha, but the city of Nishio in Aichi Prefecture actually runs neck and neck with Kyoto in terms of amounts of matcha produced!
Matcha in Nishio traces its roots back to the 13th century. Aristocrats and others prized the tea for its deep green color and aroma of refined elegance. Now there are many products throughout Japan that use matcha from Nishio, and if you're a fan of matcha yourself, you won't want to miss them!
There are also tea dealers where you can tour matcha production processes (advance reservation required). The sight of a bevy of stone mortars grinding crushed, dried tea leaves into matcha is truly memorable. Come to Nishio and enjoy matcha to the fullest!