Dear Sir and Madam,
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 'History of Houjicha'.
|
|
|
It is said that the origin of Houjicha is Kyo Bancha. Kyo Bancha was originally made by pruned tea leaves from the tea tree for the highest grade, hand picked Matcha and Gyokuro.
Machine trimmed tea trees are shaped into a uniform semicircle. In contrast, tea trees picked by hand grow upward naturally, as shown below. Hand picked tea trees grow to a height of 1 to 1.5m (3.28 to 4.92ft) around harvest season. Just after harvest, farmers prune around the base of the tea tree (about 40cm / 1.31ft). The pruned tea leaves and stems are steamed, dried in the sun, and then roasted. It is traditional Kyo Bancha and the origin of Houjicha. Now, Houjicha is made by roasting Sencha.
Houjicha is everyday tea for people living in Kyoto. Houjicha is enjoyed at every meal, with an afternoon snack, near bedtime, and so on. Hot brewed Houjicha warms not only the body but the heart and spirit during cold winters. And in the summer, Iced Houjicha is very cooling and refreshing.
The highest grade Houjicha, like our Houjicha Super Premium and Houjicha Karigane Super Premium, is used at Tea Ceremony schools. The highest grade Houjicha is enjoyed at special occasions to open the heart and spirit. Houjicha is an essential part of daily life for the people of Kyoto.
 |
 |
 |
| Machine trimmed tea trees |
Hand picked tea trees |
Brewed infusion of traditional Kyo Bancha is a little darker than Houjicha. The flavor is uniquely smoky. |
 |
 |
 |
| Tea leaves of traditional Kyo Bancha |
Tea leaves of Houjicha |
Today's Houjicha |
"
What is Houjicha?" page:
click here
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.
Sincerely yours,
Atsushi Yasui
We would like you to rediscover the value of our Houjicha items for monthly recommendation. You are sure to delight in the unique sweet and roasted flavor of Houjicha. The flavor is very smooth and the aroma lingers nicely for a while. At the same time we arranged two special Houjicha items, Houjicha Super Premium and Houjicha Karigane Super Premium. Each item is the limited edition of 400 packages only available this winter season.
|
|
To make this Houjicha Super Premium, we use only young sprouts. And a small amount of stems from the highest grade Matcha are added in order to create the unique noble aroma...
|
|
|
The stems contained in this tea are usually used for Sencha Karigane, not Houjicha Karigane. Stems from the highest grade Matcha are added in order to create the unique noble aroma...
|
|
|
Houjicha, also called Bancha, is made by roasting Sencha tea leaves over high heat. It is a brown tea with a toasted nutty flavor, and is low in caffeine...
|
|
|
Houjicha Karigane is made from the stems of high grade tea leaves and roasted in the same way as standard Houjicha. The flavor is deeply sweet and roasted, which is quite unique among Japanese tea...
|
|
|
This Organic Houjicha is certified by Japanese administration. This, also called Bancha, is made by roasting Organic Sencha tea leaves over high heat. It is a brown tea with a toasted nutty flavor, and is low in caffeine...
|
|
|
Each specially-designed nylon bag is filled with whole-leaf Houjicha, so you can enjoy the rich flavor of Houjicha in no time at all! Houjicha, also called Bancha, is made by roasting fresh green tea leaves over high heat. It is a brown tea with a toasted nutty flavor...
|
|
|
We chose and combined four of our most unique and delightful teas to make this special set: Genmaicha, Genmaicha Matcha-iri, Houjicha, and Houjicha Karigane...
|
"What is Houjicha?" page: click here
After receiving many requests from our customers, we recently added three Tea Scoops or SAMI to our line of tea ware. Tea Scoops are very useful for measuring tea leaves from Chazutsu or other tea container and when placing tea leaves into the Kyusu teapot. It also brings a traditional Japanese atmosphere to tea time. SAMI means Tea Scoop in Japanese.
|
|
The surface of this Tea Scoop is covered with peach tree bark. This style using bark of a peach tree is one of the Japanese traditional crafts. The capacity is 3g or more of tea leaves, which is a little more than 1/2 tablespoon...
|
|
|
HYOTAN, which means calabash (bottle gourd) in Japanese, has been a traditional good luck charm since ancient times in Japan. The capacity is 5g or more of tea leaves, which is the same as one tablespoon...
|
|
|
This is made of wood from the camphor tree, and finished by lacquer coating. SHIZUKU means trickle in Japanese. The shape is simple and attractive. The capacity is 5g or more of tea leaves, which is the same as one tablespoon...
|
We have begun to sell very special Flower Vase fired in the most traditional kiln, ANAGAMA by the ceramic artist Mr. Hozan Tanii.
ANAGAMA is an ancestor of the climbing kiln, a traditional style of kiln built on an upward incline. There is never one ANAGAMA the same as any other. Each work is one of a kind. (Therefore, once sold, it will be out of stock.) ANAGAMA pottery is the art of the combination of earth and fire. It fascinates the artisan and touches the heart.
It is said that a ceramic vase for flower arrangement is one of the most important components of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony along with the Matcha Bowl. The artist Mr. Hozan Tanii has designed the ANAGAMA Flower Vase to harmonize with any style of flower or foliage. Both ANAGAMA pottery and all plant life are created from earthen soil. ANAGAMA pottery is part of the natural world, born from earth and fire, made from natural clay which is minimally refined and left to its inherent state and fired in the most ancient kiln. Hozan Tanii believes that ANAGAMA pottery is created as new harmonization in the natural world by God. It is the reason why the ANAGAMA Flower Vase can be harmonized with all flowers. And needless to say, his ANAGAMA Flower Vase has such a presence that it can be displayed with or without flowers in your tea space.
We, at Hibiki-an, are fortunate to be able to offer some of his ANAGAMA Flower Vase. Please take a look. You are sure to fall in love.
|
|
UZUKUMARU of this Flower Vase name means bow expressing sincere appreciation in Japanese. This form is one of the traditional Flower Vase shapes in tea ceremony. UZUKUMARU can be placed on a table or shelf, or hung on a wall...
|
|
|
Especially remarkable aspects of this Flower Vase include the pattern created by three sea shells on the front side and brownish green color BEEDORO glaze flowing off elegantly. UZUKUMARU can be placed on a table or shelf, or hung on a wall...
|
|
|
Mr. Hozan Tanii imagined the trunk of a tree strongly growing up toward the sun when he created this. Toward the base, this Flower Vase swells outward, expressing strength that the tree takes root in the earth. Spiral lines other than potter's wheel pattern are marked on the side...
|
|
|
Especially remarkable aspects of this Flower Vase are soft and subtle HIIRO color with a calm and quiet elegance of form. The brownish gray color on the upper half is brought by natural ash glaze. The color is wonderfully soft and subtle...
|
|
|
Especially remarkable aspects of this Flower Vase are dynamic and thrilling natural glaze brought by ANAGAMA kiln and a high-spirited, courageous persona. The green color BEEDORO glaze flows dynamic. The form of this Flower Vase is high-spirited and courageous...
|
|
|
Especially remarkable aspects of this Flower Vase are calm and gentle form, moderate and exquisite atmosphere of natural ash glaze and HIIRO color, and patterns of unrefined natural soil. All curves including the curve of the handle are very gentle and create the extreme beauty of asymmetric form...
|
|
|
At first glance, this Flower Vase appears bold and high-spirited like natural bare rock. Especially remarkable aspects of this Flower Vase are the contrast and harmony of the rough and high-spirited atmosphere of bare rock in perfect balance with the subtle, delicate, and elegant atmosphere on the lower half from middle to base as well as the neck...
|
"What is ANAGAMA Pottery?" page: click here
"ANAGAMA Matcha Bowls" shopping category: click here
(Notice) Share your favorite Hibiki-an tea and teaware on Facebook and
Twitter!
We recently added Facebook and Twitter buttons on each item page on our website, so now it is easy to share your favorite tea and teaware, tea info, or any other items of interest on Facebook and Twitter. We also added Facebook and Twitter buttons to our Newsletter. Please try it!
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!
To unsubscribe from Hibiki-an Newsletters
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.
Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani
Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221
Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com
