Gyokuro Karigane Superior (200g/7.05oz)

Made from the stems and veins of premium Gyokuro tea leaves, Gyokuro Karigane Superior has a unique and delicately sweet flavor.

Karigane stems are rich in Teanin, the constituent found in Gyokuro and Matcha grown in defused sunlight 20 to 30 days before the harvest. Teanin provides an element of sweetness and flavor to the tea.

Gyokuro Karigane Superior is an excellent value. Because it is made from the stems and veins of the highest-quality Gyokuro, such as Gyokuro Premium, you can have the quality of Premium for a fraction of the cost. The stems and veins have a unique sweet taste and aroma.

We receive a lot of inquiries about Gyokuro Karigane, because it is difficult to find -- even in Japan! Karigane lovers are usually repeat customers – once they try Karigane they want to drink it all the time because it has such a great flavor and is an excellent value.
If you enjoy Gyokuro, you should try Gyokuro Karigane Superior.

Price:US$28.00

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Features of This Tea

Mellow Aroma
Refreshing Aroma
Roasted Aroma
Sweetness
Flavor

'Gokoh', 'Yabukita' Breeds

Karigane

Karigane is made from the stems of Gyokuro and high grade Sencha. Tea leaves, stems, and powder are sorted during the finishing process. The stems are called Karigane, and only account for about 5 to 10% of all tea leaves. The stems of middle or low grade Sencha are not called Karigane.
Karigane stems are rich in Theanin. Theanin is a kind of amino acid found in green tea that builds protein. The molecular structure (base arrangement) of Theanin is similar to Glutamic Acid which is known for having a sweet and flavorful taste and working to relax the brain and body.
Karigane is less expensive than tea leaves because it is a by-product. It is sorted from high grade tea leaves, and therefore has a better flavor than tea leaves of a similarly low price. In Japan some Gyokuro lovers tend to search for Gyokuro Karigane sorted from much higher grade Gyokuro. Karigane lovers are usually repeat customers - once they try Karigane they want to drink it all the time because it has such a great flavor and is an excellent value.
Karigane is sometimes difficult to find. This is because it's only made from top quality tea leaves. Since Karigane only makes up 10% of these top grade leaves, there is only a tiny amount of Karigane produced each year. So many green tea lovers in Japan search far and wide for Karigane. Fortunately Hibiki-an is able to have a steady supply of Karigane because we grow and sell only the highest grade tea leaves.