Hachimanjyu: Organic Kukicha, Leaf Stems Green Tea from Yakushima

What is Kukicha

Kukicha is literally "stem tea", and is a derivative of the refinement process of sencha. Refining sencha tea leaf involves the removal of stems, small leaf bits, and tea dust. Each part has a different weight, and separation occurs by blowing the unrefined dried tea leaf and allowing each part to fall into different containers. For this reason, kukicha is not 100% stems but a mix of stems and smaller leaf bits.

Tasting Notes

Product Info

• Ingredients: Green tea
• Japanese name: 有機茎茶
• Net Weight: 100 grams
• Cultivar: Blend of mainly Yabukita
• Harvest: April
• Cultivation & Processing Notes: Made from leaf stems sifted from the company's sencha products
• Region: Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture
• Number of Cups in 100g: 80 cups (20 uses / 4 steepings / 1 cup per steeping. Varies with your steeping recipe.)

Steeping Notes

• Tea: 5 grams.
• Time: 60 seconds.
• Water: 70˚C/158˚F, 1 cup.
• The amounts above are guidelines. Adjust to preference.
• Consider also cold steeping (see Steeping Techniques).

Producer Info

• Name: Hachimanjyu Yakushima Tea
• Producer: Keita Watanabe
• Type: Family-operated tea farm & factory
• Location: 532-24 Koseda Yakushima-chō, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima-ken