JAPANESE GREEN TEA HIBIKI-AN

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Sohen's Achievements
- Competition Grade Tea
Main Topic
Sohen's Achievements (Competition Grade Tea)
[Limited] Competition Grade Tea / Blended Sencha Items: Now Available!
Seasonal Topics & Items
[Valentine's Day Gifts] Gift Idea: Hibiki-an's Tea Bags
Japanese Snacks / Candy items (Monthly Recommendation)
[New & Limited] Teapots / Cups, Matcha Bowls / Accessories (Autumn and Winter)
(Notice 1) Employment Information
(Notice 2) New Shopping Page Design
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 'Sohen's Achievements (Competition Grade Tea)'.

Sohen's Achievements (Competition Grade Tea)

Sohen Nagatani (1681 - 1778) invented the Uji green tea processing method in 1738 when he was 58 years old. Even today, his original tea processing method is still the standard method used throughout Japan. Before Sohen invented the Uji method, Japanese tea was just Matcha or Bancha (Houjicha). Matcha used to be extremely precious and was produced only in tiny quantities, so only the SHOGUN and nobility were able to drink Matcha. Only a handful of merchants had been approved to process Matcha. And the general populace at large drank only Bancha (Houjicha) that is a brown color. Sohen Nagatani wanted the common people of Japan to be able to have access to not only brown but also green tea.

Thus Sohen Nagatani invented the Uji cha processing method. In order for the farmers in the region to become wealthy, he taught them the secret of the Uji cha processing method without the least regret. Therefore the tea industry has had a tremendous impact on the development of the entire Uji region of Kyoto.

Sohen Nagatani is memorialized in the shrine next door to his birthplace. And Sohen's grave was built on top of the highest hill in the Ujitawara area near his birthplace for his achievements. Japanese tea merchants continuously visit his grave as a sign of gratitude on October 1st of every year.

Cultivation and processing techniques have significantly progressed since that time when Sohen Nagatani invented the processing method in 1738. Now the leaves of Competition grade Gyokuro and Sencha are shaped like needles, and the flavor is extraordinarily mellow. Thanks to Sohen's achievement, you can enjoy Competition grade tea.
The birth house of Sohen Nagatani has a traditional thatched roof
The portrait of Sohen Nagatani
The shrine dedicated to Sohen Nagatani
Competition Grade Tea page: click here

[Limited] Competition Grade Tea / Blended Sencha Items

Competition Grade Tea is limited edition of just 450 packages each and Blended Sencha is limited edition of just 600 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season.

Competition Grade Tea

[Limited] Competition Grade Gyokuro Pinnacle (30g/1.06oz): US$38.00
(Now Available: 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...
[Limited] Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz): US$30.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 450 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter season)
Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle is available only at the National Tea Fair, attended by tea connoisseurs and those within the Japanese green tea industry. This fine green tea has an excellent, deeply mellow taste...
[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle (20g/0.71oz): US$46.00
(Now Available: 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...
[Limited] Competition Grade Matcha Pinnacle Refill (60g/2.12oz): US$115.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 450 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this winter 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...

Blended Sencha

[Limited] Blended Sencha Super Premium (80g/2.82oz): US$25.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn 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...
[Limited] Blended Sencha Premium (80g/2.82oz): US$20.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn 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

Seasonal Topics & Items

[Valentine's Day Gifts] Gift Idea: Hibiki-an's Tea Bags

We would like you to rediscover the value of our Teabag items for Gifts. At Hibiki-an, we use only the highest quality tea leaves in our tea bags. Each specially-designed nylon bag is filled with whole-leaf tea, so you can enjoy the elegant flavor of genuine Japanese tea in no time at all. The individual tea bags are much larger than standard paper tea bags - over 2 x 2 inches in a unique pyramid shape.

We have designed our Teabag teas to brew quickly and easily in the shortest possible time, while still retaining the fullest flavor and aroma, even when brewed in a teacup and not a teapot. We finished each kind of tea leaf for our tea bags in a special way, so that they will brew easily with teacups in a very short time. Of course, like all our teas, our tea bags may be reused three times. Each infusion will have a unique flavor and aroma.

If you want a quick and easy way to enjoy genuine Japanese tea, our Teabag teas are perfect for you. And we are certain that it is also perfect for the office, taking along on a trip, and so on. Teabags are also a great way to introduce genuine Japanese tea to beginners who may not own a teapot!
We use only the highest quality tea leaves in our tea bags.
Our Teabags allow enjoyment of genuine Japanese tea flavor anywhere.
Teabags are also a great way to introduce genuine Japanese tea to beginners who may not own a teapot.

Teabag Gift Items

Teabag Gift Set (Teabag Gyokuro and Sencha): US$29.00
Teabag Gift Set (Three kinds of Teabag Teas): US$43.00
[New] FUROSHIKI Gift KUROMAME Set: $44.00
FUROSHIKI Gift MATCHA GENMAI SENBEI Set: US$50.00
Tea Bags shopping category: click here
Gifts shopping category: click here

Japanese Snacks / Candy items

Japanese "Amuse-Bouche" (Foods to Amuse the Mouth)
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. Since 16th century Japan, they have been refined and improved upon over hundreds of years to create absolute harmony of flavor between the green tea and the delicious sweet confection or savory snack. Such as the feeling you get when you have green tea and sushi together, your palate understands that this is an ideal match of flavor... (more info)
OHIGASHI (handmade confectionary): US$23.00
OHIGASHI is one of the most traditional Japanese confectionary which is often served at Japanese tea ceremony and pairs very well with Japanese green tea. At last, we added OHIGASHI which is made at Tsuboneya, a confectioner in Kyoto well-known for their beautiful confectionary made by hand with careful attention to quality and detail...
[Our Favorite!] CONPEITOH (traditional sugar confectionery): US$19.00
CONPEITOH is a Japanese traditional sugar confectionery which came to Japan from Portugal in the 16th century. We packaged three kinds of premium CONPEITOH made by traditional processing methods with carefully selected ingredients using sophisticated modern recipes...
YOHKAN (sweet bean jelly): US$16.50
YOHKAN sweet bean jelly is one of the most popular and classic confections in Japan. We developed YOHKAN with an established AN bean jam manufacturer located in Kyoto. Our four flavors of YOHKAN are manufactured with careful attention to quality and domestic ingredients...
[Top Choice!] KUROMAME Snack (traditional bean snack): US$18.00
This premium bean snack has a refined subtle flavor: a balance of pleasant nutty aroma of roasted beans and gentle sweet taste of the coating. Only carefully selected ingredients are used and an original manufacturing method is developed...
OKAKI (handmade rice cracker): US$23.00
OKAKI rice cracker is one of the most popular and classic snacks in Japan. At last, we added OKAKI which is made at Fujisawa Eiseido known for creating OKAKI using a traditional manufacturing process with careful attention to quality and natural ingredients. This OKAKI is traditionally-made by hand using only natural ingredients sourced only in Japan...
[Recommended] MATCHA GENMAI SENBEI (handmade Japanese crackers): US$14.00
This special box of premium SENBEI crackers includes two flavors: MATCHA and GENMAI roasted rice. These modern sophisticated handmade crackers are made by traditional methods, and match very well with all kinds of Japanese tea...
Try Our Japanese Snacks / Candy page: click here

[New & Limited] Teapots / Cups, Matcha Bowls / Accessories

We have arranged for 20 limited edition and new teapots / cups, and 16 limited edition and new Matcha Bowls / Accessories. The 13 limited edition items are all available only this autumn and winter season.
[New & Limited] Teapots / Cups items
[New & Limited] Matcha Bowls / Accessories items
Teapots / Cups shopping category: click here
Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here

(Notice 1) Employment Information

We are now recruiting for a job position of ministrant of online store manager and wholesale. For details, would you click here? (Employment Information)

(Notice 2) New Shopping Page Design

New shopping page design was recently implemented on our website. It enables you to change the shopping page to display our products as a vertical list of item details, or as horizontal rows of product image tiles, depending on how you prefer to shop. You also can sort our products by price, grade, popularity, and so on. We hope this will make your visit to our website even more enjoyable. Would you please try it and see?

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Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221 Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com