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| End of Summer (Aug. 29) |
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| - Kuradashi Teas |
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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 'End of Summer
(Aug. 29) - Kuradashi Teas'. |
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End of Summer (Aug. 29) - Kuradashi Teas |
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This summer, especially August, Japan experienced intense rain and sweltering heat. In some areas, the heavy rain that fell over a few days was equal in quantity to the typical average monthly rainfall for August. The August rainfall throughout Japan will likely be more than twice the average. Contrary to the original prediction that it would be a cool summer due to El Nino, the summer has been unusually hot.
Last summer, Japan experienced record breaking intense heat and some areas suffered from lack of water. Some years ago, the intense summer heat injured tea trees, even permanently damaging some trees. This year's generous amount of rain is a blessing for tea trees.
It typically starts getting cool in early morning and night in Ujitawara, Kyoto around August 15, after the OBON religious festival. This year, it started getting cool in the early morning around August 21 or 22. The lingering summer heat is expected to remain intense.
Autumn is on its way and so are our seasonal autumn Kuradashi teas. Following traditional methods, our Kuradashi teas have been enriched in wooden boxes in the granary for one and a half years, since last May, and will be ready in some more weeks. The deepened mellow and noble flavor of enriched Kuradashi Gyokuro and Kuradashi Matcha will be available in mid-autumn. Please wait and see! |
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| To prevent damage from intense heat, straw, fallen leaves, or grasses are placed around the base of the tea trees. |
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| Tea trees under the TANA canopy are shaded sparsely to avoid intense heat. |
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| Rain is godsend for tea trees in sweltering hot summer |
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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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[Limited] Tencha is Now Available! |
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| Both Tencha teas below are limited edition of 600 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this summer season. We hope you will enjoy the pure and elegant flavor of Tencha! |
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[Limited] Tencha Pinnacle (30g/1.06oz) US$31.00 (Now Available)
Traditionally, Tencha was not brewed like Gyokuro or Sencha, because this was not included in the traditional Tea Ceremony teachings. And so, for many years, brewed Tencha has quietly been enjoyed in secret among only a few Matcha manufacturers... |
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[Limited] Tencha Super Premium (30g/1.06oz) US$23.00 (Now Available)
This Tencha Super Premium has specially been arranged in order to be brewed in the same way as Gyokuro or Sencha. The taste is deep and mellow, and the subtle noble aroma lingers in the mouth for a while... |
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[Limited] Tencha Premium (60g/2.12oz) US$27.00 (Now Available)
Tea leaves for Tencha (Matcha) are grown in the same way as Gyokuro, but processed differently than Gyokuro. The growing and processing bring the unique excellent flavor of Tencha. Of course, this Tencha also makes a lovely iced tea. The flavor is uniquely elegant... |
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Iced Tencha: click here
Have you tried Iced Tencha? Iced Tencha has a unique, excellent, and noble flavor which is different both from Iced Gyokuro and Matcha... |
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| What is Tencha?: click here |
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[Limited] Konacha is Now Available! |
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Konacha is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves. Konacha is less expensive than tea leaves because Konacha is a natural byproduct of traditional tea processing, like Karigane. Especially Konacha, sorted from high grade tea leaves, has a better flavor than tea leaves of a similarly low price.
All items below are limited edition of 600 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this summer season.
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[Limited] Gyokuro Konacha Super Premium (100g/3.53oz): US$19.00 (Now Available)
Gyokuro Konacha Super Premium is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only the highest quality Gyokuro, such as Gyokuro Pinnacle, Super Premium, Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle, and Super Premium, you can have the finest quality for a fraction of the cost... |
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[Limited] Gyokuro Konacha (200g/7.06oz): US$27.00 (Now Available)
Made from premium Gyokuro specks and tiny tea leaves, Gyokuro Konacha has a unique and delicately sweet flavor. Gyokuro Konacha is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only high quality Gyokuro... |
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[Limited] Sencha Konacha (200g/7.06oz): US$19.00 (Now Available)
Made from premium Sencha specks and tiny tea leaves, Sencha Konacha has a unique and delicately sweet flavor. Sencha Konacha is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only high quality Sencha... |
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A Tip for Brewing Konacha: click here
Konacha specks are more easily brewed for shorter time than regular Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves. The brewing time is half of regular Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves... |
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Iced Gyokuro and Sencha Using Konacha: click here
Iced Gyokuro and Sencha Using Konacha: Konacha brews quickly and flavorfully in about half the time as regular Gyokuro or Sencha tea leaves, so Konacha is perfect for Iced Gyokuro and Sencha... |
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| What is Konacha?: click here |
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[New / Available] Added Matcha Pinnacle and Premium Refill |
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We at Hibiki-an have received many requests for a value refill package of Matcha Pinnacle and Premium. At last, we have arranged to sell these two Refill Matcha. If you would like to purchase a large amount of these Matcha in bulk, would you please take a look?
These refill packs are both 120g / 4.23oz which is 4 times the amount of our usual container of Matcha Pinnacle (30g / 1.06oz) and 3 times the amount of our Matcha Premium (40g / 1.41oz), whereas the price is only 3.2 times and 2.5 times the amount each. The price is actually discounted 21% and 17% each.
These large, convenient, and re-sealable Matcha Pinnacle and Premium Refill are not only an excellent value but also good for the environment.
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[New] Matcha Pinnacle Refill (120g/4.23oz): US$138.00 (Now Available)
Nearly all of the highest grade Matcha and Gyokuro is grown in the Uji region of Japan. It is said that the Matcha grown specifically in the Ogura area of Uji is exceptionally excellent, so it is truly the finest quality Matcha available in Japan or anywhere in the world. It must be by the very grace of God that we can all enjoy excellent Matcha of this quality!... |
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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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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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(Notice) Tracking Delivery Status on our Website
You 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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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!
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