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 'Hand Picked Harvest (Efforts for Kuradashi Tea)'.
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Today most tea leaves are trimmed by machine and traditional hand picked Gyokuro, Sencha, and Matcha are rarely grown and is therefore very precious. The flavor and aroma of hand picked tea is much more mellow and smooth than tea trimmed by machine.
Tea trees for hand picked and for machine trimmed are grown in different ways, and tea sprouts of both types of trees grow differently. In the case of tea trees trimmed by machine, tea sprouts grow from the previously trimmed stubble. In contrast, in the case of tea trees picked by hand, tea sprouts shoot from the natural forks in the branches. The difference in sprout growth is the main reason why teas picked by hand vs. trimmed by machine have distinctly unique flavors. The flavor and aroma of hand picked tea is much more mellow and smooth than tea trimmed by machine and the leaves are of higher quality.
Even a skilled tea harvester can hand pick just up to 6 to 8kg of fresh tea leaves all through the day. The picked fresh tea leaves are processed and finished, at which point the total weight of the tea leaves is only about 18% of the fresh tea leaves. Even if about 20 skilled tea harvesters pick all through the day, we can only gather around 25 kg of finished precious hand picked tea.
From the time the sprouts appear to the time the leaves become too large to harvest is just a few days. So tea leaves must be harvested as quickly as possible in one long stretch. Therefore it is never easy to pick large amounts of tea leaves by skilled hands in just a few days.
Top grade tea, hand picked tea is grown only in quite a small amount. So, hand picked tea is very precious.
Our Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle, Super Premium, Kuradashi Matcha Pinnacle and Super Premium are carefully picked by hand.
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| Tea farm for tea trimmed by machine under the "Tana" canopy |
When tea is picked by hand, tea sprouts shoot from the natural forks in the branches. The sprouts create an excellent mellow and smooth flavor. |
Machine-trimmed tea is harvested by only 2 or 3 people. In contrast, hand-picked tea is harvested by 10 to 30 people. |
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| Hand-picked tea harvest scene |
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What's Kuradashi Tea: click here
Kuradashi Tea which has been stored for over a year was taken out from
the granary. We have arranged three limited edition Kuradashi Gyokuro teas,
one Kuradashi Sencha, and four Kuradashi Matcha, as described below. They
are limited edition of 850 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season.
Celebrate Kuradashi Tea and enjoy the remarkable enriched flavor and sweetness
which can only be experienced once every year! We are certain that the
fine enriched flavor and sweetness will captivate you.
Kuradashi Matcha
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
The traditional canopy used to shade tea plants from sunlight known as "Honzu" is unique and different from others. They are also important factors in creating the noble flavor and sweetness of the highest grade enriched Matcha...
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(Now Available: As requested by many customers, this value package was newly added for the 2013 Kuradashi season.)
This Kuradashi Matcha Premium Refill package is an excellent value. The price is actually discounted 21%. The traditional canopy used to shade tea plants from sunlight known as "Honzu" is unique and different from others. They are also important factors in creating the noble flavor and sweetness of the highest grade enriched Matcha...
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
For this Kuradashi Matcha Super Premium, tea leaves just after harvest, are steamed and dried in a special fire pit. The smooth and mellow taste is uniquely brought out by the special drying process...
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(Now Available: As requested by many customers, this value package was newly added for the 2013 Kuradashi season.)
This Kuradashi Matcha Super Premium Refill package is an excellent value. The price is actually discounted 17%. For this Kuradashi Matcha, tea leaves just after harvest, are steamed and dried in a special fire pit. The smooth and mellow taste is uniquely brought out by the special drying process...
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Kuradashi Gyokuro and Sencha
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Kuradashi Gyokuro is different from ordinary Gyokuro in aroma and flavor. The superb enriched and sweetened flavor and aroma lingers in the mouth for a while. The aroma is full, but not too strong. The flavor is rich and subtle. The taste is both mellow and enhanced...
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
All Gyokuro does not gain an enriched flavor but only specific kinds of Gyokuro. It depends on some factors. We have enriched this highest grade of trimmed Gyokuro for one and a half years...
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Tea leaves for this special tea grow in the Ogura area in the Uji region, which is known as one of the foremost production centers of the highest grade of enriched Gyokuro. The Ogura area was the area in where Gyokuro and Matcha were firstly grown...
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(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Long time ago the quality and good conditioned Sencha in Autumn season must have been similar in taste and aroma to this fine Kuradashi Sencha. And that time, only few people could enjoy the excellent flavour...
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What's Kuradashi Tea: 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
In Japan, Japanese green tea is often presented as a gift to celebrate for following reasons. We give the gift of green tea for a good health and a long life of friends, family, or professional colleagues. It is perfect for any special or romantic occasion such as holidays, birthdays, Valentine's Day, weddings, or the purchase of a new home.
- Japanese green tea has been highly valued and treasured as a precious medicine for health and longevity since green tea was introduced to Japan in A.D. 805 by Buddhist monks.
- Beginning in A.D. 1738, Sohen Nagatani invented the Japanese green tea processing methods which are still used today to pick and prepare the leaves. Green tea has always been the most popular beverage in Japan, believed to contribute to health and well being. Today, we understand some of the reasons why green tea is so healthy. It is full of nutrients such as Catechin, Teanin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and many others.
- Tea trees are not deciduous; they do not loose their leaves. Even after continual harvesting, the tea trees sprout patiently and energetically, especially in spring. Tea trees are very strong and resilient and live for many years. That analogy transfers directly into the tea leaf and then into your tea cup providing you and your loved ones health and long life.
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Japanese green tea is often presented as a gift to celebrate
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Tea trees are very strong and resilient and live for many years. |
The Japanese green tea processing methods invented by Sohen Nagatani contributed to the popularization of Japanese tea. |
Gifts shopping page: click here
Celebration Gifts in Japan page: click here
We have arranged for 6 limited edition items and 1 new tea ware items. The 6 limited edition items are all available only this autumn and winter season.The new and limited edition tea ware includes Matcha Bowls and Accessories mainly from Kyo Yaki and Yamanaka Nuri.
We have chosen items that are of exceptional quality yet reasonable in price. They will certainly enrich and enhance your green moment.
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This Matcha bowl is graceful and dignified. The combination of the paintings and the decoration of gold brings an extremely elegant atmosphere. The harmony and contrast of natural soil and the elegant decoration are very rare and unique...
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This is a unique Matcha Bowl, which is a combination of the artisan's original designs with the most traditional style of Matcha Bowl. The original designs add a moderate sophistication to traditional WABI SABI, and make viewers feel the artisan's skill and passion...
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This porcelain Matcha Bowl creates an aura of elegance and unique pleasant cooling sensation. Curious to say, HAISEI color of this Matcha Bowl weaves warmth with cool, and the harmony and contrast of cool and warmth are excellent...
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This Matcha Bowl has a tranquil and elegant atmosphere, and when held in both hands, creates a calming effect. Matcha Bowl having such character is quite rare, but sought after...
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KOGIKU of this name is wild chrysanthemum in Japanese. Wild chrysanthemum is one of the most appreciated flowers in the Japanese tea ceremony. Considering the price and quality, this Matcha bowl is an outstanding value...
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KYO of this name means KYOTO and UME means plum in Japanese. Plum is special auspicious flower in Japan because it is said that Plum is the first to bloom among all spring flowers...
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The name of this CHAZUTSU refers to a small ball. TEMARI means ball, and KO means small in Japanese. This CHAZUTSU is very beautiful and spreads gracefulness around, so this is also suitable for display in your home or office...
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Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here
Teapots / Cups shopping page: click here
We plan to introduce one Tea Recipe each week, including sweets, ice cream, drinks, and so on - all made with Matcha or other Japanese tea - on our Newsletter. In this issue, we share with you our Matcha Cookies recipe. Click below and take a look!
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How to make Matcha Cookies ...
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(Notice 1) Improved Customer Review Posting by Nickname and Picture
We improved our website by adding an option to use a nickname and upload a picture when you post a customer review. Now you can enter a nickname when posting a review in order to remain anonymous. Previously our customer review page requested the reviewer’s real name.
And now our customer review page also allows you to upload and add a picture to your review. Please post your candid review with a picture of our tea and your family, pet, lovely landscape, or anything meaningful to you. It surely would be a great help for other customers to enrich the enjoyment of Japanese tea!
(Notice 2) Price Reduction on All Merchandise
We reduced our prices approximately 4% to 6% on all merchandise on our website due to recent exchange rate fluctuation. The updated price was effective on and after September 1, 2013. This is the second price reduction in the past 6 months and the total reduction range is approximately 15% to 18%. We will continuously make efforts to provide genuine Japanese tea and culture to our customers.
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Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani
Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221
Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com
![[Limited] Kuradashi Gyokuro Premium (80g/2.82oz)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/readings/KuradashiTea/KuradashiItems/KuradashiPre.jpg)
![[Limited] KOGIKU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$93.00](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/thumbnail/KOGIKU_A01.jpg)
