日本是世界主要茶叶生产和消费国之一,素以生产和饮用绿茶著称。80年代以来日本茶叶市场逐步发生变化,并迅速成为世界主要茶叶进口国之一。 1999年日本茶叶进口量5.08万吨,比上年增加8.3％,接近1997年的创纪录水平(5.2万吨);其中传统的进口品种——乌龙茶和红茶共37 251吨,减少4.3％;绿茶进口剧增为12 154吨,增加87％。绿茶和乌龙茶的主要供应国是中国(占65％),增加28％;红茶的主要供应国是斯里兰卡和印度,1999年日本从这两个国家进口红茶分别减少2.5％和29％。 日本原以饮蒸青绿茶为主,自产茶叶可 Japan is one of the major tea producers and consumers in the world and is known for producing and drinking green tea. The Japanese tea market has been gradually changing since the 1980s and has quickly become one of the world’s leading tea importers. In 1999, the volume of tea imports in Japan was 50,800 tons, up 8.3% over the previous year, close to the record level of 1997 (52,000 tons); among them, the imports of traditional oolong tea and black tea totaled 37,251 tons, a decrease of 4.3%; that of green tea Imports soared to 12,154 tons, an increase of 87%. The major suppliers of green tea and oolong tea are China (65%), an increase of 28%. The main suppliers of black tea are Sri Lanka and India. In 1999, Japan imported black tea from those two countries by 2.5% and 29% respectively. Japan was mainly green tea steaming drinks, tea can be produced