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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 'Processing by Traditional Method'. |
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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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Origin of Matcha (Competition Grade Tea)
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Buddhist monk Eisai popularized the idea of drinking tea for good health in the 12th century. At that time, tea was considered precious medicine, and the flavor seems to have been quite bitter. It was very long afterward that tea became flavorful.
Tea popularized by Eisai was crushed into rough powder or tiny pieces and
then brewed by boiling in water. It is said that the stone mill was used
to grind tea into powder from around 14th century. It is believed that
at that time, tea was whisked like Matcha of today.
Today, tea leaves for Matcha are shaded from sunlight by a canopy called TANA, for 20 to 30 days just before harvest, to create a source of mellow taste, Theanine in tea leaves. The shading method started around 15th or 16th century. Though the canopy was close to the Tana canopy of today, the shading at beginning was not to create a source of mellow taste, Theanine, but to prevent damage by frost. Indeed, at beginning tea leaves were covered by canopy in February and March just before sprouts appear. In contrast, modern tea leaves are covered by canopy after sprouts appear. It is believed that tea farmers discovered by accident that tea leaves grown in shade have mellow taste, and then began to shade tea leaves from sunlight after sprouts appear to create the mellow taste.
Rikyu Sen (1522 - 1591) popularized the tea ceremony around late 16th century. Rules of the Japanese tea ceremony governed that Matcha should be served with confections or candy. So, at that time Matcha must have still had a bitter taste.
Judging from transport history of fertilizers, it was around 17th or 18th century that farmers began introducing fertilizing techniques for Matcha. Matcha taste probably became mellow and smooth around 18th century by the popularization of fertilizing techniques and shading techniques. It is said that high quality Matcha at the beginning of the 19th century was very mellow and smooth, similar to the high quality Matcha of today.
Cultivation technique has significantly progressed since that time. Now extremely mellow flavor Matcha like Competition Grade Matcha 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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| Traditional stone mill following the traditional design from long ago. |
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Printing of TANA canopy long ago. It looks very much the same as today's HONZU TANA canopy.
(Reference from UJI SEICHA EMAKI at KONNICHI AN Library) |
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| Today's HONZU TANA canopy, following the traditional design, looks the same as long ago. |
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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$36.00
(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$29.00
(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$20.00
(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 nine Japanese modern confectioneries which are all
only available in autumn. Our carefully selected items for autumn confections
amuse our mouth very much, and perfectly match with Japanese green tea.
MOCHI and MAME are unique texture, traditonal and modern snacks are so
crispy. YUZU Peel also provide their original flavor.
We are certain that they will all completely please your taste bud. Please take a look! |
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Highly Recommended Featured item |
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Premium YATSUHASHI are a type of traditional Japanese snack made with cinnamon. Our YATSUHASHI are savory baked almonds wrapped in delightful cinnamon.
When you take a bite, the unique cinnamon flavor spreads in your mouth. They have such a simple, wholesome taste, enjoyed by people of all ages in Japan.
It is a premium flavor that goes well not only with Japanese tea, but also with Sake and other alcoholic beverages.
We cannot fully express how amazing YATSUHASHI Almonds are, with only words and pictures, but we hope you will try these firsthand and enjoy their unique deliciousness and health benefits, too..... (more info: click here)
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| It is a lovely confection that looks as if it is covered with snow. |
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| Well-balanced taste of cinnamon and almonds. |
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| We recommend it as a winter gift. |
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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 19 limited edition tea ware items, and 16 limited edition new Matcha Bowls / Accessories. The 35 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) Delivery Discount
For a limited time until January 31st JST, orders of under US$150 get Express International delivery (both of DHL and Postal) for only US$8.50 (US$11.50).
Please note that orders bound for some countries can be accepted only with Express International NOT Standard International due to COVID issue and the Invasion of Ukraine.
(more info; click here)
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(Notice 2) 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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