jana charles kinoshita - CONTRIBUTOR & Health Advisor
I am maybe the latest addition to the IKKYU team, but I have been in Japan already for more than 17 years, including 14 in Kyushu. I've had many opportunities to participate to Japanese Tea ceremonies, through my love of kimono and nihonbuyo, the Japanese traditional dance.
On many occasions, I've had the chance to taste very high-quality teas as I lived in the most famous green tea areas of Kyushu. My French upbringing has helped with the tasting exercise, having a good palate, but I was not convinced by the traditional Japanese food-green tea combination of tastes… mainly iced-sugar delicacies.
I take great pleasure in deepening my knowledge of Japanese green teas, but above all in imagining a more modern approach to tasting that could broaden green tea's appeal overseas. Thanks to my friends, founders and associates of this magnificent company that is IKKYU, I have the opportunity to think about developing new ways for you to taste these very high-quality teas, with new, modern and surprising food associations.