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| Processing by Traditional Method |
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| - Limited / Blended Sencha |
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| Main Topic |
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| Seasonal Topics & Items |
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| Dear Sir and Madam, |
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| 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 'Organizational Support for Tea Competition (Competition Grade Tea)'. |
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Processing by Traditional Method (Blended Sencha)
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To produce a substantial amount of tea, today's processing machines are very convenient with amazing high productivity relative to some decades ago. To process highest grade tea, especially highest grade Sencha, precision is required in each process like sorting, blending, drying, and so on. In this case, processing by skilled hand is ideal. Processing machines of some decades ago are quite close to hand processing methods though old-fashioned and primitive in design, and not superior in productivity relative to modern ones.
Blended Sencha is processed by the traditional method using old-fashioned machines and by skilled hand. We introduce a few processes in detail below.
At sorting process, tea leaves are sorted into uniform size for good appearance and easy brewing. At first, tea leaves are sorted into very small size, small size, and large size. Large leaves are cut into small leaves, and then mixed with small leaves. The batch size of old-fashioned machines and hand processing is about 30 to 120kg (66 to 265lb). ARACHA (processed by farmer) packaging size is 30kg (66lb) each. Modern sorting machines produce about 4 to 6 times more than old-fashioned machines and require about 500 to 800kg (1,100 to 1,800lb) per batch. Traditional methods enable us to check the quality by small batch. To produce the highest grade tea, we run each farm's tea separately in a small batch in order to evaluate the quality each small batch and provide feedback to the farmers who grow the tea with the goal of improving the next year's crop. However, to process by modern machine, tea producers have no other choice but to mix teas from different farms to make a large batch. It is impossible to check the quality by each tea farm.
At blending process, we blend about 90kg (200lb) of tea leaves in 15 minutes by hand, and 900kg (2,000lb) in 15 minutes by modern blending machine. The modern blending machine productivity is 10 times the amount of processing by hand and the results are quite good.
Traditional processing method by old-fashioned machines or by hand is ideal to produce highest quality tea and provide feedback to farmers, though it is exhausting work. The productivity of modern processing machines is superior to the old-fashioned way, but the batch size is too large to produce highest grade tea. |
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| Old-fashioned sorting machine, which is very close to hand-processing. |
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| Modern sorting machine. Though the productivity is about 4 to 6 times superior to the old-fashioned way, the batch size is too large to produce highest grade tea. |
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| Blending by hand, which is very exhausting work |
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| Modern blending machine, which blends 900kg (2,000lb) of tea leaves in 15 minutes. |
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| Old-fashioned drying machine. It is heated by gas. All factors like temperature, time, and so on have to be monitored and adjusted. |
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| Modern drying machine, similar to a microwave. It can control temperature, rolling speed of belt conveyor, and so on automatically. |
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The First Story of Gyokuro (Competition Grade Tea)
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In 1835, the owner of tea company Yamamotoyama, tea merchant Kahei Yamamoto VI (sixth), came from Tokyo to learn Tencha processing (steaming and drying fresh green tea leaves) in the Ogura area, in Uji, Kyoto.
Kahei Yamamoto VI tried to duplicate this Tencha processing method in the same way, but could not succeed. His finished tea was in the unusual shape of small round beads. He brought this tea back to Tokyo, and brewed the same way as Sencha, and was surprised to find that the taste was amazing. He then introduced the tea to his clients, and soon the tea became quite popular. He named the tea Tama no Tsuyu or Bead of Dew (Tama=Bead/Jade, no=of, Tsuyu=Dew).
In 1841, in the Ogura area of Uji in Kyoto, Shigejyuro Eguchi perfected the Gyokuro processing method, based on the process that was currently being used to process Sencha, invented by Sohen Nagatani in 1738. The tea leaves used for Gyokuro were the same as those used for Tencha. (Tea leaves used for Matcha, before they are ground into fine powder, but after stems and veins are removed, are known as Tencha.)
Gyokuro was given its name by Shigejyuro Eguchi. Gyokuro is a different reading of the Kanji characters for Tama no Tsuyu or Bead of Dew. The Kanji for Tama can also mean fine jewels of Jade or Pearl. Therefore, Gyokuro also can be translated as Jade Dew or Pearl Dew. And for green tea, this name fits well, as Gyokuro is a high-grade tea, a precious jewel of green tea.
More than 150 years have passed since that time when the Gyokuro processing method was first completed in 1841 and the cultivation technique has significantly progressed. Now extremely mellow flavor Gyokuro like Competition Grade Gyokuro can be grown. Would you enjoy the unique mellow flavor of Competition Grade tea which is the result of farmers' efforts over many generations? |
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| There is a memorial marker at the center of Ogura, the birthplace of Gyokuro. |
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| Gyokuro was developed by combining tea leaves for Matcha and the processing method developed by Sohen Nagatani. |
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[Limited] Competition Grade Tea / Blended Sencha Items |
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| Competition Grade Tea is limited edition of just 650 packages each and Blended Sencha is limited edition of just 850 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season.
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Competition Grade Tea |
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[Limited] Competition Grade Gyokuro Pinnacle (30g/1.06oz): US$35.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 650 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
This Competition Grade Gyokuro Pinnacle has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held in order to improve Japanese tea agricultural and manufacturing techniques, and to congratulate and encourage those that have produced outstanding tea... |
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[Limited] Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz): US$28.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 650 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle is available only at the National Tea Fair, attended by tea connoisseurs and those within the Japanese green tea industry. This fine green tea has an excellent, deeply mellow taste... |
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[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle (20g/0.71oz): US$43.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 650 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
This Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held several times a year in Japan. Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and attended by executives of the Japanese tea industry... |
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[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle Refill (60g/2.12oz): US$108.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 650 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
This Competition Grade Matcha Premium Refill package is an excellent value. The price is actually discounted 17%. This has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held several times a year in Japan. Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries... |
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Blended Sencha |
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[Limited] Blended Sencha Premium (80g/2.82oz): US$19.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
Blended Sencha Premium is a blend of Sencha and Gyokuro. This tea is composed of four breeds of green tea: Kanayamidori, Sayamakaori, Yabukita, and Okumidori... |
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| 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. |
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| Sincerely yours, |
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| Atsushi Yasui |
Seasonal Topics & Items
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[Limited] Snacks and Candy (Winter) |
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We at Hibiki-an added 9 Japanese confectioneries which are all only
available in winter. Our carefully selected items for winter confections
amuse your mouth very much, and perfectly match with Japanese green tea.
GOMA MOCHI rice cake and KORO GAKI are unique texture. Japanese traditional
confection of NORI OKAKI also provide its crunchy texture.Matcha Emaki, KOUJI SOBA BOLO and KINTOKI IMO Chips have
light texture and its aroma linger in your mouth. Rich flavor and mellow
aroma of YUZU Peel with chocolate, Matcha chocolate lingers on
the palate and has a lovely finish.
We are certain that they will all completely please your taste bud. Please take a look! |
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Winter Confections |
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| Japanese Snacks / Candy Shopping category: click here |
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[Valentine's Day Gifts] How About Hibiki-an's Gifts? |
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| Have you chosen a Valentine's Day gift for your loved ones? In Japan, green tea is often presented as a gift because it symbolizes a wish of good health and longevity. This tradition of giving green tea as a gift is as popular today as it has been throughout history. We give the gift of green tea for good health and long life of friends, family, and loved ones. A gift of genuine Japanese tea would make a perfect gift this Valentine's Day.
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Hibiki-an's Gifts
We have chosen and combined some of our most popular items which would make perfect gifts for friends, family, and professional colleagues, or any special or romantic occasion such as holidays, birthdays, Valentine's Day, weddings, or the purchase of a new home... |
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[Recommended] HIBIKI-AN Gift Card / Wish List
HIBIKI-AN Gift Card (email delivery):
Once you place an order, the Gift Card email including the claim code will be sent to your recipient directly. The recipient can spend their Gift Card right away...
Wish List:
You can share your Wish List with your family and friends by email, Facebook or Twitter. Of course, it is useful just to keep track of items you are interested in or want to order in the future... |
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FUROSHIKI Gift / FUROSHIKI Wrapping Fabric items
FUROSHIKI Wrapping Fabric items are suitable to wrap tea or snacks / candy purchased on our website for gift. It can also be used as a decorative wall hanging, table cloth, scarf, and so on.
FUROSHIKI Gift Items, which are carefully wrapped with the FUROSHIKI Japanese wrapping fabric, are available too... |
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[Gift Idea] Tea Ware, Hibiki-an's Teabag, or Japanese Snacks/Candy
Japanese tea combined with traditional tea ware or with Japanese Snacks/Candy makes a wonderful gift. Atmospheric handcrafted tea ware enhances the green moment. Traditional Japanese Snacks/Candy pair beautifully with any kind of Japanese tea. Like the French "Amuse-Bouche" their purpose is to amuse the mouth or palate, in this case, while drinking green tea... |
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[New & Limited] Teapots / Cups, Matcha Bowls / Accessories |
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| We have arranged for 15 limited edition tea ware items, and 14 limited edition new Matcha Bowls / Accessories. The 33 limited
edition items are all available only this autumn and winter season. |
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| Teapots / Cups shopping category: click here |
| Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here |
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(Notice 1) Price Reduction
We marked down all Items on our website by 7.5% to 12% though all costs such as fuel, materials, logistics, wages, fertilizer etc. have rapidly been rising. We would like to pass along the benefits of our efforts and the recent currency exchange fluctuations to our customers.
This price reduction should also help our customers in countries where the currency has weakened against the US dollar recently.
Our mission is always to give our customers the best experience.
(visit our website; click here)
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(Notice 2) Delivery Discount
For a limited time until January 31st JST, orders of under US$150 get Express International delivery for only US$6.5 (US$11.50).
Available for countries where only DHL Express International delivery is offered, such as the US, Northern / Eastern Europe, and some other countries.
(more info; click here)
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(Notice 3) Update of International Delivery Status
Here is an update of the International Delivery Status. To learn more, please visit the links below.
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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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You can remove your email address from the mailing list by clicking here.
Or if you prefer, email us with your FULL NAME and we will immediately remove your email address from the mailing list.
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