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 'Growing Competition Grade Tea (Competition Grade Tea / Limited)'.
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Growing competition grade tea requires a surprising amount of money and effort. We introduce a few topics on competition grade tea below.
(Fertilizing)
Fertilizer for competition grade tea costs several times more than usual high grade tea. A few times amount and more expensive fertilizer is used. For example, the below pictures show herrings used as fertilizer. Whole herrings, which are also edible for humans, are fragmented into small pieces, and they are carefully distributed at the roots of the tea trees and among the tea trees. When the tea trees absorb the nutrition of fertilizer, the tea leaves for competition tea have an amazing glossy brilliance, much more so than tea leaves for other tea. Even the tea leaves for usual high grade hand picked tea shine more than common machine trimmed tea. You can see this in the below pictures. They are never unveiled.
(Shading)
In the case of Gyokuro and Matcha, one of the most difficult issues is knowing exactly when to shade the tea leaves from sunlight. If too early, tea leaves can't absorb nutrition and the flavor is weak. If too late, the noble mellow aroma is weak. As the time for shading approaches, the farmer carefully checks tea leaves growth and condition quite frequently. Our tea farmer says that when shade is required, the tea leaves talk and ask him to provide shade from sunlight.
(Harvest / Processing)
Competition tea is harvested when the tea tree has only one or two sprouts. In general, the flavor of the tea becomes more intense when the tea tree produces two to five sprouts. If the quantity of tea leaves is too small, the tea can’t be processed, so a good amount of tea leaves are required. Therefore, double or triple the number of hand pickers are needed. Arrangement of gathering hand pickers is one of the difficulties with growing competition tea. Fresh tea leaves are processed just after harvest. Processing is one of the most important factors for competition tea. To process competition grade tea, the farmer has many special and wise techniques learned over generations and through trial and error, including subtle yet vitally important adjustments to temperature, time, and the production environment.
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| Herrings fragmented into small pieces just before being used as fertilizer |
Herrings distributed at the roots of tea trees and among tea trees. Distributed a few times from the end of February to the end of March |
This picture was taken at the end of March. Tea leaves for usual high grade hand picked tea have a lovely shine. |
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| This picture was also taken at the end of March. These are leaves for competition grade tea. To compare both pictures, you can see that tea leaves for competition tea have an amazing glossy brilliance. |
Because competition tea is harvested when the tea leaves are quite young, double or triple the number of hand pickers are needed. |
This is the fire pit for Tencha (Matcha). To process competition grade tea, the farmer makes subtle yet vitally important adjustments to temperature, time, and the production environment. |
Competition Grade Tea shopping category: click here
Competition Grade Tea and Blended Sencha are limited edition of just 450 packages each and Blended Sencha are limited edition of just 600 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season.
(Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle Refill)
We at Hibiki-an have received many requests for a value refill package
of Competition Grade Matcha. If you would like to purchase a large amount
of Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle in bulk, would you please take a look?
The price is actually discounted 17%.
Competition Grade Tea
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(Out of Stock Soon: limited edition of 450 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
This Competition Grade Gyokuro Pinnacle has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held in order to improve Japanese tea agricultural and manufacturing techniques, and to congratulate and encourage those that have produced outstanding tea... |
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(Out of Stock Soon: limited edition of 450 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
This Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held several times a year in Japan. Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and attended by executives of the Japanese tea industry... |
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(Out of Stock Soon: As requested by many customers, this value package was newly added for the Competition Grade Tea season.)
This Competition Grade Matcha Premium Refill package is an excellent value. The price is actually discounted 17%. This has an excellent, deeply mellow taste. The National Tea Competition is held several times a year in Japan. Sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries...
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(Out of Stock) |
Blended Sencha
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(Now Available: limited edition of 600 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
Blended Sencha Super Premium is a blend of Ohiwase and Meiryoku breeds of green tea. These tea leaves are sprouts that are small and soft and not fully-grown... |
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(Now Available: limited edition of 600 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
Blended Sencha Premium is a blend of Sencha and Gyokuro. This tea is composed of four breeds of green tea: Kanayamidori, Sayamakaori, Yabukita, and Okumidori... |
Competition Grade Tea page: click here
What is Blended Sencha?: 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
Japanese tea combined with traditional tea ware or with Japanese Snacks/Candy
makes a wonderful gift. Atmospheric handcrafted tea ware enhances the green
moment. All handcrafted tea ware available at Hibiki-an, created by artisans
in Kyoto, Shigaraki, Tokoname, and so on is both traditional and sophisticated.
Since these are our most popular and well-loved items, you can get an idea
of what might make the best gift!
Traditional Japanese Snacks/Candy pair beautifully with any kind of Japanese tea. Like the French "Amuse-Bouche" their purpose is to amuse the mouth or palate, in this case, while drinking green tea.
Please take a look at our Japanese Snacks/Candy, Teacups/Teapots, and Matcha Bowls/Accessories. You will certainly find the perfect gift.
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| Special tea ware, such as handcrafted tea ware, which creates a different tea experience, enhances the green tea moment. |
Well designed tea accessories certainly delight tea lovers. |
Our premium snacks and candies, follow traditional thought and roles, and are all made by traditional methods, taking a great deal of time and using only carefully selected ingredients. |
Teapots / Cups shopping category: click here
Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here
Japanese Snacks / Candy shopping category: click here
Gifts shopping page: click here
Celebration Gifts in Japan page: click here
This time, we introduce four Matcha Bowls from the series of Matcha Bowls
featuring SHOHEKIGA paintings of NIJO Castle.
NIJO Castle is not only a Japanese national treasure but also a world heritage site listed in 1994. All of the 954 paintings on FUSUMA sliding doors and murals called SHOHEKIGA at NIJO Castle are designated as nationally important cultural properties. The SHOHEKIGA paintings are from the KANO school, which was the largest and most significant school in the history of Japanese painting.
We, Hibiki-an and Zenshoh Yamaoka, who is the leading expert of paintings derived from masterpieces in the middle ages, cooperated and arranged a series of Matcha Bowls featuring SHOHEKIGA paintings of NIJO Castle.
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MATSU TAKA ZU was painted for the OHIROMA great hall, where is decorated with paintings that honored the SHOGUN emperor. When the DAIMYO vassal lords looked up to see the SHOGUN emperor, they felt as if the great pine tree arced above the SHOGUN emperor...
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KIKU ZU was painted for the KUROSHOIN rooms, where the SHOGUN emperor carried out everyday tasks with his followers, are decorated with relaxing, elegant, and gentle paintings of birds, flowers, trees, and so on in order to create an atmosphere of abundant fertility...
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CHIKURIN GUNKO ZU was painted for the west wing of TOHZAMURAI great entrance hall, where is decorated with strong, dynamic paintings in order to show the dignity of the SHOGUN emperor to DAIMYO vassal lords. DAIMYO vassal lords should have felt awed to see paintings of the tiger pride...
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ROGAN ZU was painted for the anterooms of the SHIKIDAI rooms, where are decorated with affable, kindly, and elegant paintings to cultivate a feeling of warm hospitality. This ROGAN ZU is popular because of the affable, kindly, and elegant atmosphere...
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Matcha Bowls featuring NIJO Castle KANO Paintings page: click here
It is said that Bamboo Charcoal works to give water a pure flavor. Indeed, Bamboo Charcoal is frequently used not only by tea connoisseurs but also at RYOH TEI high-class Japanese restaurants.
Bamboo Charcoal gives water a fine and fresh flavor, actually changing the composition of the water on a molecular level to reduce the size of the water cluster structures, add minerals, and remove impurities. It infuses the water with calcium, potassium and magnesium. One piece of Bamboo Charcoal may be used in this way for approximately 6 to 8 months. It depends on usage conditions.
Bamboo Charcoal can also absorb the chlorine smell and taste of tap water. For removing the smell and taste of chlorine, a piece of Bamboo Charcoal may be used for approximately 1 to 3 months.
Bamboo Charcoal is also frequently used as deodorizer for refrigerator or rooms. For removing the smell in refrigerator, 1 to 3 pieces of Bamboo Charcoal may be used for approximately 1 to 3 months. It can recover the function of absorbing smell 4 to 8 times by boiling and drying. Bamboo Charcoal can release organic substances from air holes by boiling and drying.
In Japan, Bamboo Charcoal powder is also taken internally (usually mixed into foods) for wellness and to improve digestion.
Tea connoisseurs understand that good water makes good tea. We believe this method of purifying and improving the water flavor is very simple and healthful. In addition, it supports our local tea farmers. Of course, the container, in which this Bamboo Charcoal is packaged, can be used for preserving tea leaves.
Bamboo Charcoal in Tea Container shopping page: click here
Bamboo Charcoal in Tea Container shopping page: click here
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Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani
Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221
Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com
![[Limited] Competition Grade Gyokuro Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/readings/CompetitionGradeTea/CompetitionGyokuroPinnacle.jpg)
![[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle (20g/0.71oz)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/readings/CompetitionGradeTea/ComeptitionMatchaPinnacle.jpg)
![[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle Refill (60g/2.12oz)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/readings/CompetitionGradeTea/ComeptitionMatchaPinnacleRef.jpg)
![[Limited] Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/readings/CompetitionGradeTea/CompetitionSenchaPinnacle.jpg)
![[NIJO Castle KANO] MATSU TAKA ZU (by Zenshoh Yamaoka)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/Matsutakazu_A01.jpg)
![[NIJO Castle KANO] KIKU ZU (by Zenshoh Yamaoka)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/Kikuzu_A01.jpg)
![[NIJO Castle KANO] CHIKURIN GUNKO ZU (by Zenshoh Yamaoka)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/Chikuringunkozu_A01.jpg)
![[NIJO Castle KANO] ROGAN ZU (by Zenshoh Yamaoka)](http://www.hibiki-an.com/images/upload/Roganzu_A01.jpg)
