Tsubame Kukicha (80g)

¥1,600

Medium-bodied with a mild aftertaste, Tsubame has a dark sweetness with notable flavors of bark and molasses. Pale yellow in color, Tsubame’s liquor has a leafy aroma with honeyed hints. Made from the stems of summer Tencha leaves, this tea is hardier and more resilient.

Taste: Umami
Body: Medium
Texture: Rounded
Length: Medium
Harvest: July
Tea Cultivar: Yabukita
Origin: Wazuka
Cultivation: Shaded
Processing: Steamed, Dried
5% discount when purchasing more than 3 bags.

Description

 

What is Kukicha?

Kukicha

 

Kukicha (茎茶) means ‘stem tea’ and refers to the tea’s content. Kukicha is a kind of tea made from the
young stems and stalks of the tea plant. After steaming and processing the harvested leaves, the stems are separated and then dried to make Kukicha. Reflecting on the ‘wholeness’ philosophy of Japanese Zen Buddhism the whole tea leaf is turned into tea without waisting any of its parts.

Kukicha is full of nutrition as lots of the vitamins are concentrated in the stems of the leaves and these are released by the brewing process. The bitter substances on the other hand are weak so that the tea has a refreshing, almost grassy flavor. Kukicha is naturally very low in caffeine, as most of the caffeine is in the actual leaves and buds. This makes Kukicha an excellent drink for any time of the day.

Reference: ‘Comparison of flavor components between kukicha (stalk green tea) and sencha (green tea)’, by Hara , T. Fukatsu , S. Ina , K.

 

Farmer Profile

Akky-san Farming Tea

Akihiro “Akky” Kita is our president and lead farmer here at Obubu. His desire to make this tea available to the general public is the foundation of Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms. In college, Akky took up a part-time job as a farmhand in Wazuka, and fell in love with the tea of this region. He made the decision then to leave college and devote his time to mastering the art of tea farming. Recognizing the need for independent farmers like himself to spread the joy of drinking Japanese tea, he travels each year during the winter off-season to bring Japanese tea to people all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production and Brewing guide

 

Additional information

Weight 130 g

1 review for Tsubame Kukicha (80g)

  1. Obubu Tea

    Reviews by tea professionals and enthusiasts:

    “The dry leaves have a green aroma with notes of sweet licorice, wood, and flowers.
    The infusion is light yellow-green with an aroma of green cooked vegetables, wood, and a hint of butter. The taste contains notes of licorice, wood, and soybeans with no astringency”- Heather Porter, 2016

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