Dear Sir and Madam,
We at Hibiki-an THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your continued patronage and support.
We are pleased to offer useful information for your healthy life and continued
enjoyment of Japanese green tea. In this issue, we talk about 'Shincha News Flash! ("Aracha" Processing)'.
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We have been following the green tea sprouts from early spring when the tea trees put out their first new buds to the harvest of Shincha, the first tea of the year. Now, we bring you the latest breaking news and information from Hibiki-an's tea farm in Ujitawara in Kyoto!
Around May 23: ("Aracha" Processing)
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| Tea sprouts just after harvested |
Steaming process |
Tea leaves just steamed |
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| Crumpling process |
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Shaping process |
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| Kyoto Japan Agricultural Cooperative Association Trade Show |
Buying and selling tea |
Cool storage warehouse at Kyoto Japan Agricultural Cooperative Association |
"Aracha" Processing steps:
Now is the time for the Shincha (Sencha) harvest that we have all been waiting for! From the time the sprouts grow enough to the time the leaves become too large to harvest is just a few days. So tea leaves for Shincha (Sencha) must be harvested as quickly as possible in one long stretch. Many tea processing facilities will work non-stop, holding an all-night vigil for the Shincha.
After being picked or trimmed, fresh tea leaves are processed the same day. Processing steps are 1) Steaming, 2) Drying and Crumpling, and 3) Shaping. It is said that the Steaming step is the most difficult and requires skill and experience, even though the steaming time is just 30 to 60 seconds. If tea leaves are steamed heavier, the astringency and refreshing aroma that characterizes Sencha is destroyed. On the contrary, if tea leaves are not steamed enough, the taste will not be good at all. Farmers arrange the steaming temperature and steaming time, considering the conditions of picked fresh tea leaves (thickness of tea leaves, how soft, and so on).
Aracha is green tea that has been processed by the farmer, but is not finally finished. It is unique simple flavor, so that it has been enjoying for centuries. Our litmited edition Farmers' Shincha is "Aracha" Shincha. You can enjoy the natural taste and refreshing aroma of this "Aracha" Shincha at an affordable price.)
The Kyoto Tea Trade Show:
Aracha is green tea that has been processed by the farmer, but is not finally finished. It is either sold directly to the wholesale house or bid on at the Kyoto Japan Agricultural Cooperative Association (Kyoto Prefecture Headquarters of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations).
At the Kyoto Japan Agricultural Corporative Association, over half of the tea at the show is grown in Uji. These events are held three times every week throughout the harvest season at the Kyoto Japan Agricultural Cooperative Association. At the peak, over one hundred tons of tea leaves are collected and dealt on one day. Buyers consider the breed, location of the tea farm, farm or family name, tea quantity, and so on. They also thoroughly test the quality of the tea when they tender a bid. To appreciate the quality of the tea, they carefully check the water color and clarity as well as the brightness of the appearance of the tea leaves. They will not accept defective leaves which do not have enough brilliance or cloudy water color. To judge them, unfailing discriminating technique is required.
Shincha teas:
Shincha is now available. We have arranged to add four limited edition Shincha items only available this Shincha harvest season, featuring a few regular Sencha items with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor. Celebrate our first tea harvest of the year with Hibiki-an's Shincha and enjoy the remarkable fresh flavor, which can only be experienced once every year!
What is Shincha?: click here
Traditionally, Gyokuro is aged for several months after harvest to gain a more complex, enriched flavor. However, recently, Shincha Gyokuro has become a popular way to enjoy Gyokuro. Shincha Gyokuro is made from freshly-harvested tea leaves, direct from the tea farm. It is not aged over time, like traditional Gyokuro. We at Hibiki-an have received many requests for Shincha Gyokuro. And at last we have arranged to sell Shincha Gyokuro separately from our regular Gyokuro items, so our customers can try this fresh new style of green tea.
Enjoy the superb harmony of refreshing aroma and smooth, mellow taste of this special tea. Anyone who enjoys Gyokuro is sure to love this tea, available only this harvest season.
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With our Shincha Gyokuro you can enjoy both the refreshing aroma of Shincha and the mellow smooth taste of Gyokuro in one cup of tea. In the tea industry, it is called "Kabuse Cha"...
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Customer Reviews of Shincha Gyokuro: click here
At last, the Shincha Harvest started here in the Uji region!
Shincha teas are now available. We have arranged to add four limited edition Shincha items only available this Shincha harvest season, featuring a few regular Sencha items with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor. And other Sencha regular items are planned to be replaced later by Shincha step by step.
Celebrate our first tea harvest of the year with Hibiki-an's Shincha and enjoy the remarkable fresh flavor which can only be experienced once every year!
Limited edition Shincha teas
All four Shicha teas below are limited edition of 1,200 packages each ONLY
AVAILABLE this harvest season. We have arranged various types of Shincha,
which will be specially finished to enjoy Shincha's refreshing aroma and
flavor.
We hope you will enjoy the refreshing aroma and smooth flavor of Shincha!
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(Now Available)
These tea leaves are finished in the traditional Uji/Kyoto style. Therefore
the astringent refreshing aroma and mellow flavor are prominent, and the
harmony is excellent...
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(Now Available)
As requested, we have added this new Shincha tea. With Shincha AOTE, the astringent refreshing aroma and bitter taste is moderated, the tea color is greener, and the taste is mellower...
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(Now Available)
Saemidori breed brings us pleasure in the springtime, to consider the unique flavor and early-ripening. Enjoy the sweet and smooth taste unique to this tea, as well as the fresh aroma...
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(Now Available)
Enjoy the natural taste and refreshing aroma of this "Aracha" Shincha at an affordable price. "Aracha" is unprocessed tea that Japanese farmers have been enjoying for centuries...
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With our Shincha Gyokuro you can enjoy both the refreshing aroma of Shincha and the mellow smooth taste of Gyokuro in one cup of tea. In the tea industry, it is called "Kabuse Cha"...
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Regular Sencha teas with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor
For pre-orders, we chose three regular teas especially recommended to enjoy
Shincha's remarkable refreshing aroma and fresh and smooth flavor.
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(Now Available)
Sencha Pinnacle, which is the highest quality Sencha produced in Japan,is the same type of tea which has been presented to the Japanese emperor
for many years. This item is grown at the same tea farm with tea that has
been presented to the Japanese Emperor, and harvested in the same way,
picked by skilled hands...
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(Now Available)
Sencha Super Premium, along with our Sencha Pinnacle, is the highest quality Sencha produced in Japan. Each leaf is specially selected and carefully picked by our farmers' skilled hands. With this special tea, you can enjoy the same Shincha flavor enjoyed by Japanese Emperors...
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(Now Available)
Organic Sencha's harvest generally starts 7 to 10 days later than conventional grown Sencha. The feature of the flavor is very simple and traditional. We imagine that the Shincha flavor enjoyed hundreds of years ago in historical Japan was just like this. Would you enjoy the simple Shincha flavor that was enjoyed long, long ago?...
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What is Shincha?: click here
Replacement Status of Regular Teas by New Crop: click here
Are you enjoying your green moments? Hibiki-an encourages those who love
to drink green tea. If you have any requests or questions regarding our
teas or services, please don't hesitate to contact us. We sincerely hope
that you enjoy genuine Hibiki-an Japanese green tea direct to you from
Kyoto, Japan.
Sincerely yours,
Atsushi Yasui
We have arranged for 10 limited edition, and two new Matcha Starter Sets.
The 10 limited edition Matcha Bowl are all available only this spring and
summer season.
Some of the items are designed with modern, sophisticated style, while others use traditional handcrafted techniques for a more traditional design.
We have chosen items that are of exceptional quality yet reasonable in price. They will certainly enrich and enhance your green moment.
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HAJIRAI of this name means bashfulness in Japanese. White glaze and pink color on the base, both outside and inside, and its unique form, remind us of the blush of a maiden. It also reminds us of the breezy and carefree springtime...
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This Matcha bowl is graceful and dignified. The combination of the paintings and the decoration of gold brings an extremely elegant atmosphere. The harmony and contrast of natural soil and the elegant decoration are very rare and unique...
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ORIBE is a green color used in traditional pottery. MENTORI describes the surfaces created by carving away the clay. The traditional green color glaze, ORIBE green, is named after historical tea master, Oribe Furuta...
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This porcelain Matcha Bowl creates an aura of elegance and unique pleasant cooling sensation. HANA of this name means flower and KESSHO means crystal in Japanese. This item is finished by the technique called Crystal glaze...
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AYAME of this name means iris in Japanese. Traditional drawing patterns on this Matcha Bowl are dynamically and elegantly shaped with a unique and ingenious form. Orange patches called GOHONDE deepen the atmosphere...
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KYO of this name means KYOTO and HARU means spring in Japanese. SAKURA cherry blossoms, painted on this Matcha Bowl, are well-loved flowers, symbolizing springtime, in Japan. Considering the price and quality, this Matcha bowl is an outstanding value...
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This Matcha bowl is one of the most traditional and standard called IRABO CHAWAN. This style features a yellow IRABO glaze and the typical form called IDO GATA...
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This Matcha Bowl has a tranquil, elegant, and a little cute atmosphere, and when held in both hands, creates a calming effect. Matcha Bowl having such character is quite rare, but sought after...
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HYO RETSU, which means cracked ice in Japanese, is a very traditional Japanese glazing technique. This technique intentionally creates an intricate network of thin surface cracks in the glaze...
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This Starter Set is the minimum set including only the essential tea ware for a perfect bowl of Matcha. And this includes KYO no HARU handcrafted Matcha Bowl, painted elegantly by typical Kyo Yaki style...
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This Starter Set is the minimum set including only the essential tea ware for a perfect bowl of Matcha. IRABO handcrafted Matcha Bowl and KUROCHIKU Banboo Whisk create the WABI SABI atmosphere...
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Teapots / Cups shopping page: click here
Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here
YOHKAN sweet bean jelly is one of the most popular and classic confections
in Japan along with OHIGASHI candy and OKAKI rice cracker. Indeed AN bean
jam, which is the main ingredient of YOHKAN, is the most essential ingredient
of WAGASHI traditional Japanese confections. It has a unique texture and
sweetness which pairs well with all kinds of Japanese tea.
We developed four flavors of YOHKAN with an established AN bean jam manufacturer
located in Kyoto. Our four flavors of YOHKAN are manufactured with careful
attention to quality and domestic ingredients...
(visit the shopping page: click here)
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| Starting from the left to right, OHSHIMA, OGURA, YUZU, and UME |
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Wrapped and decorated with WASHI Japanese paper |
YOHKAN (sweet bean jelly) US$17.50 shopping page: click here
Japanese Snacks / Candy shopping category: click here
(Notice) Our New Website
We recently launched a brand new website to provide an enhanced customer experience. The new design enables you to navigate and interact with the site more easily, including:
- Finding and ordering items from your order history.
- Searching for items more easily in our tea and tea ware shop.
- Enjoying seasonal topics more easily.
Our new smartphone-optimized website will also launch at the beginning
of June. Please wait and see.
Account info
You can view your account info, including your order history, as well as change your email, password, or home address or add a new shipping address to your address book by clicking here.
Or if you prefer, we are happy to update your account info for you. Just let us know. Please don't hesitate to contact us!
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Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani
Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221
Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com
![[New] IRABO (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$85.00](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/thumbnail/IRABO_A01.jpg)
![[Limited] HYO RETSU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/thumbnail/HyoRetsu_A01.jpg)
![[New] KYO no HARU Matcha Starter Set](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/thumbnail/KYO no HARU Starter_A01.jpg)
![[New] IRABO Matcha Starter Set](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/thumbnail/IRABO Starter_A01.jpg)