Matcha is distinctive powdered green tea made by fine grinding tea leaves using a stone or ball mill. It is quite popular due to its rich sweet flavor and vibrant green color, which makes it stand out among other types and liked by everyone. Matcha is pricier than other green … [Read more...] about What is Matcha (抹茶)
Types of Japanese Tea
What is Ichibancha? (一番茶)
The complicated world of tea is complicated! Thankfully, however, as tea lovers, it's ultimately to our benefit. In fact, it seems hard to imagine that anything is more complicated than the plethora of teas available at our fingertips in our local grocery store right here, … [Read more...] about What is Ichibancha? (一番茶)
What is Benifuki (べにふうき)
Japan is famous for green tea as its 99% of tea production compromises green tea. Recently, Japan is also getting into other tea styles, such as black, oolong, and more, but the production stays at 1 % and still a rarity. Benifukki cultivar is mainly famous for black tea; … [Read more...] about What is Benifuki (べにふうき)
What is Yutaka Midori (ゆたかみどり)
Yutaka Midori ゆたかみどり means abundant green, is a Japanese green tea cultivar that ranks second after Yabukita in terms of cultivation land and popularity. It is mostly found in Kagoshima Prefecture, with a 30% cultivated area used for most of the green tea variety. This cultivar … [Read more...] about What is Yutaka Midori (ゆたかみどり)
What is Chiran Sencha (知覧煎茶)
Chiran Sencha refers to a Sencha plant grown in the Chiran region of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It is a high-grade tea cultivated using the highest rated cultivars such as Yabukita, Yutakamidori, and Asatsuyu. Chiran Sencha Tea is easy to brew and has a rich and complex flavor, … [Read more...] about What is Chiran Sencha (知覧煎茶)
What is Konacha (粉茶)
Konacha 粉茶 means powder tea or bud tea, a kind of Japanese green tea made up of tea buds, dust, and small leaves that were left behind during the processing of Sencha and Gyokuro. Although. It is named powdered tea, but it is not finely grounded into a powder form like Matcha; … [Read more...] about What is Konacha (粉茶)
What is Genmaicha (玄米茶)
Genmaicha translates to brown rice tea, and the word is derived from Japanese. It is a mix of Sencha leaves and roasted brown rice. Japanese also referred to this green tea as popcorn tea due to the popping sound during roasting, and popped rice looks like popcorn. By adding … [Read more...] about What is Genmaicha (玄米茶)
What is Kukicha (茎茶)
Kukicha茎茶 is also called, Bōcha棒茶, due to stick-like shape and In English, known as the "stem tea" or "twig tea." It is cultivated from the same plant as Sencha, just like Bancha, consisting of stems, stalks, and twigs instead of leaves like in other teas. It mostly comes from … [Read more...] about What is Kukicha (茎茶)
What is Karigane-cha (雁が音茶)
Karigane-cha referred to tea made from stalks especially, from stalks of Gyokuro or high-grade sencha. This term is mainly used in the Kyoto province of Japan, but many from outside use this term to differentiate it from Kukicha, which is stalk tea too but has a blend of Sencha, … [Read more...] about What is Karigane-cha (雁が音茶)
What is Hojicha (ほうじ茶)
Hojicha is a type of Japanese green tea that is basically roasted at a high temperature. Usually, Bancha, Kukicha, or sometimes Sencha leaves are roasted over charcoal to get Hojicha. The process of roasting tea leaves first came to Kyoto, Japan, in the 1920s. Some speculate that … [Read more...] about What is Hojicha (ほうじ茶)