I realized not long after I bought a chasen that this was essential if I wanted to keep it in usable condition. I considered this one and a wooden one I saw on another site and decided in favor of this one because damp bamboo on ceramic seems somehow more sanitary and l...(more)

I had three reasons for ordering House Matcha: I wanted a matcha that was both affordable and delicious that I could use for recipes; I was curious to learn whether or not it was good for everyday consumption; and I wanted to compare it to the koicha a friend brought me...(more)

I was disappointed in this tea the first time I prepared it. I followed Mr. Yasui's instructions to the letter, brewing for a total of one minute at 80C (176F), and found it extremely bitter (in fact, I could taste nothing else). I decided to drop the water to 75C (167F...(more)

I'm not a genmaicha drinker but a close friend is, so I ordered this as a surprise in anticipation of a visit. He was delighted with my gift, and mentioned that during a recent trip to Japan, he'd found it difficult to find genmaicha due to the fact that most Tokyo vend...(more)

I recently purchased some Sencha Karigane (see review) and had a hunch that it might make good iced tea. The temperature and humidity spiked recently here in NYC, so I decided to give it a shot. For my first attempt, I used my Hohryu (see review) to brew 12g of karigan...(more)

This is wonderful stuff. I'm very happy with Hibiki-an's Gyokuro Karigane Premium, but I wanted to try a karigane that was made entirely from sencha leaves and veins (my understanding is that almost all karigane contains gyokuro). I correspond with another Hibiki-an cus...(more)

This Iced Tea Pot comprised my third order from Hibiki-an, so I'd first like to write a few words about the transaction itself. I placed my order for this pitcher last Thursday evening and received an immediate confirmation. 43 MINUTES LATER, I received notice that my ...(more)

I enjoy things that are not only of excellent quality but are interesting and unusual as well. On this basis, I decided to order Farmer's Shincha because I trust Hibiki-an's quality, plus it's not something one sees offered as a matter of course (my interest was piqued)...(more)

This tea, which is part of my second Hibiki-an order, is both interesting and exquisite. I'll try to elaborate. My first infusion was for the recommended 40 seconds (which for me means letting it brew for 10 seconds since it takes me about 30 seconds to decant what's i...(more)

Gyokuro Karigane Premium and a Hohryu kyusu (for which I've also written a review) comprised my first order with Hibiki-an. As I stated in my review of the kyusu, it won't be my last. I'm new to tea (