Did you know there's a special day dedicated to celebrating matcha, Japan's world class green tea powder? Mark your calendars for February 6th, officially recognized as "Matcha Day" in Japan.

This delightful observance was established in 1992 by the Nishio Tea Cooperative Association in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture – a region renowned for producing some of Japan's finest matcha. But why February 6th? The answer lies in the elegant world of Japanese tea ceremony.

The date cleverly corresponds to the Japanese words "furo" (風炉), which refers to the portable heat used in traditional tea ceremonies to heat water for preparing matcha. The Japanese characters can be read as "fu" (風), meaning "wind" and corresponding to the number 2, and "ro" (炉), meaning "heat" and corresponding to 6 – hence, 2/6 or February 6th.

While the furo is traditionally used during the summer months (May through October) in modern tea ceremony practice, it holds special historical significance as one of the original tools that helped shape the development of the tea ceremony as we know it today.

The establishment of Matcha Day by Nishio City, one of Japan's premier matcha-producing regions, reflects both the historical importance and contemporary popularity of this remarkable green tea powder that has captured the world's attention.

Whether you're a matcha enthusiast or new to this vibrant green powder, February 6th offers the perfect excuse to savor a bowl of traditionally prepared matcha or enjoy one of the countless modern matcha-flavored treats that have become popular worldwide.