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Iced Gyokuro & Sencha
Iced Houjicha |
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| Iced Tea Recipes |
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| Seasonal Topics & Items |
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| Dear Sir and Madam, |
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| 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 'Iced Gyokuro & Sencha / Iced Houjicha (Iced Tea Recipes)'. |
| We would like to introduce some traditional iced tea recipes. We are certain that they will enrich your green moments this summer season! You can brew Iced Japanese Tea with any of our teas available at Hibiki-an. |
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In Japan, we have been enjoying iced green tea for many years! This tradition is as unique to Japan as fine Japanese green tea, because Japan has been blessed with clean and pure water since old times. It is the perfect refreshing drink for a hot and humid summer day, which there are many of in Japan!
There are three different ways to brew Iced Gyokuro or Sencha. Each extracts the taste and constituents in a unique way. You can choose and enjoy brewing each way, considering the purpose or taste you like the best. |
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| This brewing technique is a time consuming process, but provides the most noble taste and atmosphere, which is suitable for the highest grades of Gyokuro and Sencha. This brewing technique creates a finished tea that is low in Caffeine, since Caffeine is extracted best in hot water. |
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Place 7 to 8g (1.5 tablespoons) of Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves into the Kyusu (teapot). |
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Fill the Kyusu with pieces of ice. |
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Wait for the ice to thaw naturally at room temperature (do not heat the Kyusu). |
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It is finished when the pieces of ice are fully thawed. |
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Pour the tea from the Kyusu into each glass alternately little by little, so that the quantity and taste of the tea is equal in each glass. |
| You can brew Iced Gyokuro and Sencha with any of our Gyokuro and Sencha teas. |
(2) Brewing by hot water once and cooling quickly |
This brewing technique involves brewing the tea in hot water, then cooling it quickly by pouring the hot tea into a glass filled with pieces of ice.
Particularly in the case of Sencha, you can enjoy the refreshing and astringent taste that Sencha is well-known for, because this hot brewing technique extracts Catechin and Caffeine that are not extracted by brewing with ice or cold water. This way is also suitable when you wish to enjoy the healthful benefits of Catechin and Caffeine, such as when you would like to concentrate or have energy. This way is suitable for middle and high grades of Gyokuro and Sencha.
The crackling "Pachi Pachi" sounds when hot tea is poured over ice creates a cool and relaxing atmosphere in summer. |
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Place 7 to 8g (1.5 tablespoons) of Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves into the Kyusu (teapot). |
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Pour 200ml (7.04fl oz) of 176F (80C) temperature of water into the Kyusu. |
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Wait for 2 to 3 minutes. You'll want to brew the tea quite strongly because later the thawed ice will weaken the flavor. |
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Pour tea from the Kyusu into each glass filled with pieces of ice to cool the tea quickly. Pour alternately little by little, so that the quantity and taste of the tea is equal in each glass. |
| You can brew Iced Gyokuro and Sencha with any of our Gyokuro and Sencha teas. |
(3) Brewing by cool water |
| This brewing process is easy to do and creates tea which is easy to store and preserves well. You can enjoy the smooth and mellow taste of both Gyokuro and Sencha without any bitter notes because Caffeine is not extracted in cold water.
This way is suitable for all grades of Gyokuro and Sencha. |
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Place 7 to 10g (1.5 to 2 tablespoons) of Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves into the teapot (or large size Kyusu). |
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Pour 500 to 1000ml (17.6 to 35.2fl oz) of cool water into the teapot (or large size Kyusu) and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 6 hours. |
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In order to equalize the taste of the tea, shake the Kyusu horizontally before pouring the tea into each glass. |
| You can brew Iced Gyokuro and Sencha with any of our Gyokuro and Sencha teas. |
Iced Houjicha is made from roasted green tea also known as Bancha.
Traditionally, tea farmers exhausted from working in hot summer weather would take a break and enjoy Iced Houjicha. First, they would boil water and tea in a kettle. Then they would cool it off by submerging the kettle of tea in a nearby brook. In fact, most everyone in Japan, not just farmers, traditionally enjoyed Iced Houjicha in the summer season. Houjicha hardly contains Caffeine but it does contain beneficial Catechin. Also Houjicha is a good affordable everyday tea. Iced Houjicha is a source of health for farmers in the hot summer season.
You can brew Iced Houjicha with all our Houjicha teas: Houjicha (Bancha), Houjicha Karigane, Organic Houjicha, and Teabag Houjicha.
There are two ways to make Iced Houjicha. If anything, we recommend you try the Traditional Japanese farmer's recipe at least once! |
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(1) Traditional Japanese farmer's recipe |
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Boil water in a large kettle (about 2 liters) |
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Pour 1/2 cup of Houjicha tea leaves into the kettle and boil for 2 minutes. |
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After cooling it a little, fully chill the tea in the refrigerator. |
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(2) Brewing by using Kyusu (teapot) |
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Place 7 to 8g (3 tablespoons) of Houjicha tea leaves into the Kyusu (teapot). |
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Pour 200ml (7.04fl oz) of boiling temperature of water into the Kyusu. |
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Wait for 1 minute. You'll want to brew the tea quite strongly because later the thawed ice will weaken the flavor. |
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Pour tea from the Kyusu into each glass filled with pieces of ice to cool the tea quickly. Pour alternately little by little, so that the quantity and taste of the tea is equal in each glass. |
| You can brew Iced Houjicha with any of our Houjicha teas. Visit the Houjicha teas shopping page. |
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| 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. |
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| Sincerely yours, |
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| Atsushi Yasui |
Seasonal Topics & Items |
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Customer Appreciation (Matcha Karigane is Now Available!) |
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| [Now Available] In appreciation of our valued customers for their continuous support of Hibiki-an, Matcha Karigane Pinnacle will be included FREE with all orders for the first 3,200 customers. |
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| As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Hibiki-an this July, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their continuous support of Hibiki-an. We deeply appreciate your understanding regarding the value and the quality of our teas and services. |
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Special Gift - Matcha Karigane Pinnacle: |
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| We would like to send you a small gift, Matcha Karigane Pinnacle as a token of our gratitude. We will include Matcha Karigane Pinnacle in the order of the first 3,200 customers who place an order at our store
after June 29th. Matcha Karigane has a unique noble flavor because it is
made from the veins and stems of Tencha, which is used to make Matcha...
(more info; click here) |
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| As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Hibiki-an this July, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their continuous support of Hibiki-an. We deeply appreciate your understanding regarding the value and the quality of our teas and services. |
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We would like to send you a small gift, Matcha Karigane Pinnacle as a token of our gratitude.Matcha Karigane has a unique noble flavor because it is made from the veins and stems of Tencha, which is used to make Matcha. However, even in Japan, Matcha Karigane is difficult to find, because procuring the veins and stems of Tencha and then creating the Matcha Karigane can be a complicated process. Therefore its noble flavor is not well-known even in Japan. We carefully roasted the veins and stems of the Tencha in order to bring out its special noble flavor.We have arranged Matcha Karigane Pinnacle only for this anniversary. Would you please enjoy this unique noble flavor and roasted aroma? |
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(How to enjoy Matcha Karigane Pinnacle)
for two cups
- Tea leaves: 1.5 to 2 table spoons (8-10g)
- Water temperature: 176F (80C)
- Amount of water: 200cc
- Waiting time: 1 minute |
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[Limited] Handpainted Glasses, Elegant Yunomi & Matcha Bowl (Summer) |
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| We have arranged for some glass tea ware and porcelain, which are all limited
edition only available this summer season. They are all designed with modern,
sophisticated style, while others use traditional handcrafted techniques
for a more traditional design. They will all expand in application depending
on your idea. Please take a look. |
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[Limited] TAKE SANKAKUZU (handpainted glass: pair): US$110.00 (Now Available)
Drawing patterns of this pair of sophisticated tumbler glasses are designed in the motif of a traditional paintings of artisans who revived or established flourish schools which both played the most significant role in Japanese painting history... |
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[Limited] TAKEZU (handpainted glass: 330ml): US$65.00 (Now Available)
This drawing pattern is designed in the motif of a traditional painting called TAKE TORAZU, which was originally drawn by Tanyu Kano (1602 - 1672). He was the great ancestor who revived the KANO school which played the most significant role in Japanese painting history... |
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[Limited] SANKAKUZU (handpainted glass: 330ml): US$65.00 (Now Available)
This drawing pattern is designed in the motif of a traditional drawing pattern called KAKUZU, which was originally drawn by Hohitsu Sakai (1761 - 11829). This looks like the cranes are standing in the water (bottom of glass); a beautiful effect... |
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[Limited] HANA KESSHO HANADA (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$106.00 (Now Available)
This Matcha bowl is flat and open style. The flat style was originally developed in order to choreograph coolness in the summer season in the Middle Ages. This HANADA color is quite elegant and beautiful like a clear blue sky or crystal clear aqua ocean... |
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Shincha is Now Available! |
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At last, the Shincha Harvest started here in the Uji region!
Shincha teas are now available. We have arranged to add four limited edition Shincha items only available this Shincha harvest season, featuring a few regular Sencha items with especially enjoyable Shincha flavor. And other Sencha regular items are planned to be replaced later by Shincha step by step. Celebrate our first tea harvest of the year with Hibiki-an's Shincha and enjoy the remarkable fresh flavor which can only be experienced once every year!
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Limited edition Shincha itemsAll items below are limited edition of 1,200 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this spring harvest season. We have arranged various types of Shincha, which will be specially finished to enjoy Shincha's refreshing aroma and flavor. For more information regarding each item, please click on the links below. We hope you will enjoy the refreshing aroma and smooth flavor of each Shincha item! |
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[Limited] Shincha Gyokuro (80g/2.82oz): US$25.00 (Now Available)
With our Shincha Gyokuro you can enjoy both the refreshing aroma of Shincha and the mellow smooth taste of Gyokuro in one cup of tea. In the tea industry, it is called "Kabuse Cha"... |
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[Limited] Shincha Matcha (30g/1.06oz): US$28.00 (Now Available)
Recently, Shincha Matcha is enjoyed mainly among teachers or masters of tea ceremony. They enjoy the fresh flavor of Shincha Matcha. And they feel delight of the spring season, inspired by the fresh flavor of Shincha Matcha... |
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[Limited] Shincha Matcha Refill (120g / 4.23oz): US$90.00 (Now Available)
This Shincha Matcha Refill package is an excellent value. The price is actually discounted 20%. Over time, the refreshing aroma will moderate and the flavor will enrich, so that you can enjoy a subtle variation of aroma and flavor with each refill... |
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Almost Regular Sencha and Gyokuro Replaced by New Crop |
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| At last, almost of our most popular regular Sencha and Gyokuro teas have been already replaced by new crop harvested in this May. |
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Replacement Status of Regular Teas by New Crop: click here |
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(Notice 1) Tracking Delivery Status on our WebsiteYou can now check the delivery status of orders shipped by Express International Delivery on your Account Information (Order History page) on our website. Previously, our customers had to ask us for the tracking number and check the status on their own. Now that the delivery status of orders shipped by Express International is available on our website, this will help to ensure that orders will reach our customers more smoothly. Orders shipped by Standard International Delivery are not trackable, which is the same as in the past. |
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- Order History page: clicking here.
- Express International Delivery: clicking here.
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(Notice 2) Our New Website / New Smartphone-optimized WebsiteWe recently launched a brand new website to provide an enhanced customer experience. The new design enables you to navigate and interact with the site more easily, including: |
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- Finding and ordering items from your order history.
- Searching for items more easily in our tea and tea ware shop.
- Enjoying seasonal topics more easily.
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| Our new smartphone-optimized website launched too. Would you check once? |
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Account infoYou 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!
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To unsubscribe from Hibiki-an NewslettersYou 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.
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