Houjicha Karigane (200g/7.05oz)

This Houjicha Karigane is made from the stems of high grade tea leaves and roasted in the same way as standard Houjicha. (For roasting process of Houjicha, click here.)

In contrast to the refreshing and roasted flavor of regular Houjicha, our Houjicha Karigane has a deeply sweet and roasted flavor, which is quite unique among any kinds of Japanese tea. The sweet flavor is brought by Theanine which is a constituent contained in Karigane and known for having a sweet and flavorful taste and working to relax the brain and body.

Like Sencha, tea leaves for Houjicha are grown with fully-flooded sunlight, so that Houjicha contains beneficial Catechin. And since Houjicha is pan-roasted, it is very low in caffeine. In Japan, Houjicha is commonly given to babies and people who are sick because it is both nourishing and low in caffeine. Besides, Houjicha is perfect for iced tea. It will cool you on a sizzling hot day. (For more information, click here.)

If you love Japanese tea, you are sure to delight in this unique and excellent sweet and roasted flavor. The flavor is very smooth and the aroma lingers nicely for a while. Also Houjicha Karigane is a good affordable everyday tea and is a favorite beverage of tea farmers all over Japan.

Price:US$19.00

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Features of This Tea

Mellow Aroma
Refreshing Aroma
Roasted Aroma
Sweetness
Flavor

Karigane

Karigane is made from the stems of high grade tea leaves. 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 low grade tea leaves 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.

Important Factors for Houjicha

Houjicha flavor depends on two important factors: geographic features of the tea farm location, and freshness.
It is said that tea farms which have specific geographic features for growing the highest grade Sencha can also grow tea leaves for excellent Houjicha. The tea farm should be located in mountain ravines, with mineral-rich soil. The misty climate, sloping hills, warm days and cool nights create the excellent flavor of Houjicha. All of our Houjicha is grown only at tea farms suitable for highest grade Sencha in the Uji region.
Freshness is also most important for Houjicha. The excellent roasted aroma diminishes with time. Houjicha usually keeps in good condition for a year or more if preserved appropriately. However, the best excellent roasted aroma of Houjicha can be enjoyed within a few months after roasting. We are constantly roasting new batches of Houjicha so that we can ship all our Houjicha teas within two weeks of the time it is roasted. With our Houjicha, you can experience the full flavor of freshly roasted tea leaves.

Brewing way

You can enjoy this Houjicha Karigane brewed in the same way as regular Houjicha as follows:
- For 2 cups -
Tea leaves: 3 tablespoons (7-8g)
Water temperature: boiling water
Amount of water: 200cc.
Waiting time: 15 - 30 sec.