After hearing that traces of radiation levels have been found in fish and vegetables coming from Japan, some tea drinkers are concerned about drinking Japanese tea. The truth is the Japanese tea available on the market now was harvested last year then processed and stored far away from the source of radiation.
Joshua Kaiser, founder and CEO of Rishi Tea, is currently in Japan meeting with tea officials. According to Kaiser, “We know that the Japanese government is now controlling and banning exports from the 200 KM disaster zone. Fresh sea food and fresh produce is more at risk than tea and now Japanese agriculture officials are checking for radiation in products from all other areas. They are comparing the results with the affected zone’s results. They found no radiation problem in produce further south, which is where the major tea zones are located.”
Regarding the soon-to-come spring harvest, most of the tea plantations in Japan are in the south, far away from the radiation. The wind is carrying the radiation northeast, the opposite direction of the tea plantations.
However, any tea exported from Japan will be thoroughly tested for radiation levels by growers, the Japanese government, the US government, and the tea companies selling the teas. All tea companies contacted by Tea Examiner have stated that they will not purchase or sell any tea unless they test it themselves and find it free of radiation.
In short, there is no reason to worry about drinking Japanese tea. It will, in fact, help the tea farmers in Japan. The Japanese consume 99% of the 90,000 tons of tea they produce annually. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroyed dozens of retail tea shops. The tea farmers in Japan very much need Americans to continue purchasing Japanese tea.
Source: World Tea News
License for photograph
Comments