Tea

Matcha
Sencha
Gyokuro
Kukicha/Karigane

Genmaicha
Houjicha
Wakoucha
Gift Box

Matcha

Premium Organic Matcha 30g

Charaku Premium Organic Matcha comes from fields high in the mountains of the Nishio region of central Japan, the country's premier location for growing organic tencha, the base tea to produce matcha. Only the best leaves are hand-picked and granite stone-milled to produce our high quality matcha. It is Japanese-certified Organic and also Kosher-certified.

$24.95 Sale Price $22.95

Sencha

	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Organic Asatsuyu Fukamushi Sencha; Kirishima, Kagoshima, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Organic Asatsuyu Fukamushi (deep-steamed) Sencha, 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture Cultivar: Asatsuyu As with most deep-steamed tea, it infuses quickly and produces a deep green color on the first infusion. Very full bodied with grassy flavor and aroma, combined with a hint of marine air. Very smooth and light, with low astringency and subtle amami even on subsequent infusions. $11.95
	Chiran Sencha, Kagoshima Prefecture, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Chiran-cha, Sencha - 2022 1st Harvest, Sencha from Chiran City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Infuses to a deep emerald-golden green with an herbaceous and slightly nutty aroma and flavor. Full-bodied, and very smooth with a moderate astringency level. $8.50
	Hachijyuhachiya (88th Night) Sencha; Kobayashi, Miyazaki, 50g 2022 1st Harvest Hachijyuhachiya (88th Night) Sencha; Kobayashi, Miyazaki, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest. The annual tea harvest in Japan begins 88 days after Risshun, the start of spring on the traditional Japanese calendar. Drinking tea picked on this day has always been considered auspicious and believed to bring good health throughout the year. Often reserved for family and friends, this tea has naturally limited availability. Charaku Fine Japanese Tea is pleased to offer Hachijyuhachiya Sencha this year! This Asamushi (light-steamed) Sencha from Kobayashi in eastern Miyazaki is smooth with low astringency. We hope it brings you health and good fortune this year! $11.50
	Makizono Kirishima Organic Zairai Sencha; Kirishima, Kagoshima, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Makizono Kirishima Organic Zairai Sencha -2022 1st Harvest is a chuumushi (medium-steamed) tea that brews to a warm green color. It's a low astringency, soft and smooth, medium body tea with mellow amami (sweetness) notes. Zairai means native and represents an older cultivar of the Japanese tea family. $10.50
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Meiryoku Organic Sencha, Kagoshima, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Meiryoku Organic Sencha; Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture - 2022 1st Harvest This Organic Sencha from Kirishima infuses to a nice green hue, with a slight woodsy aroma. It is a smooth tea with good mouthfeel. It has the characteristic grassy taste and medium-level astringency characteristic of fine sencha. The Kirisihima region of Kagoshima Prefecture has become a leading center of organic tea production in Japan in recent years. The region as a whole has enjoyed a reputation for producing delicious teas for many years. The Kirisihima region of Kagoshima Prefecture has become a leading center of organic tea production in Japan in recent years. The region as a whole has enjoyed a reputation for producing delicious teas for many years. $10.25
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Yutakamidori Organic Sencha; Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Yutakamidori Organic Sencha - 2022 1st Harvest, from Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu This organic sencha has a light grassy aroma with notes of pepper and citrus. It has a good balance of shibumi (astringency) and amami (sweetness) with shibumi diminishing and amami increasing in 2nd and 3rd infusions. $10.50
	Organic Okumidori Kabuse Sencha; Kirishima, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Organic Okumidori Kabuse Sencha from Kirishima City in Kagoshima Prefecture, 2022 1st Harvest. Kabuse (literally "covered") teas represent a growing technique where the tea plants are shaded for a period prior to harvest. This includes Gyokuro, but Gyokuro is shaded longer (3-4 weeks,) and more completely than a Kabuse Sencha, which might be shaded for a week or two at most, allowing it to occupy a space between Sencha and Gyokuro. This Kabuse Sencha is a low astringency, soft and smooth, medium body tea with mellow amami (sweetness) notes. Kirishima is located in the center of Kagoshima Prefecture between Kinko Bay to the south and the Kirishima Mountains to the north bordering Miyazaki Prefecture. Organic tea production in the area has increased in recent years. $10.85
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Asatsuyu Organic Kabuse Sencha, Satsumasendai, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Asatsuyu Organic Kabuse Sencha; Satumasendai, Kagoshima - 2022 1st Harvest. Asatsuyu ("Morning Dew") Sencha is also a Kabusecha (Covered Tea) grown with the tea plants undergoing a period of shading before harvest, similar to Gyokuro. Gyokuro may be shaded longer (3-4 weeks,) and more completely than a Kabuse Sencha, which might be shaded for a week or two at most, allowing it to occupy a space between Sencha and Gyokuro. This Kabuse Sencha is a soft and smooth, full body tea with low astringency, mellow amami (sweetness,) and mild grassy notes. Satsumasendai is located in western Kagoshima Prefecture facing out to the Koshikijima Islands and beyond to the East China Sea. Also cut by the large Sendai River, it experiences warm breezes and an early growing season. Organic tea production in the area has increased in recent years. $10.85
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Saemidori Organic Fukamushi Sencha; Ei, Kagoshima, 50g, 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Saemidori Organic Fukamushi Sencha; Ei, Kagoshima, 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Ei, Kagoshima Prefecture Cultivar: Saemidori Fukamushi (literally "deep steamed") teas are steamed for a longer period of time than usual during the initial processing to arrest oxidation. The result is a tea with lower astringency, caffeine content, and a darker color. This JAS Organic Saemidori varietal infuses to a nice medium green color, with a mild marine air aroma. The tea is very smooth with good body, and a good balance of mostly amami (sweetness) and a slight finish of shibumi (astringency.) The town of Ei, in the former county of Ibusuki in southern Kagoshima Prefecture, was combined with the towns of Chiran and Kawanabe in 2007 to make the new city of Minamikyushu. All three towns are noted tea growing regions, but Ei Sencha has often been compared to Gyokuro for the tea's reputation of being smooth and mellow. $13.50
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Yabukita Competition-grade Organic Sencha; Miyazono Farm, Satsumasendai,Kagoshima Pref. 50g - 2022 SHINCHA TEMP OUTOF STOCK - Yabukita Competition-grade Organic Sencha Origin: Miyazono Farm; Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture Cultivar: Yabukita This Competition-grade JAS Organic Sencha is proudly grown by Kenkichi Miyazono, whose family has over a century of tea growing experience passed down through each generation. Now dedicated to natural farming methods, his tea fields sit near the shore of Lake Imuta, a Ramsar Convention registered wetland, and the mountains of Funemidake and Atagotake. He farms with a philosophy that beautiful nature produces beautiful tea. This tea has a sweet grassy aroma and infuses to a clear light green hue. The first infusion is full-bodied, buttery, and umami-rich, with little astringency. The second infusion brings more shibumi (astringency) up-front, with a sweet grassy finish. Third and fourth infusions are much lighter in body, but have a balance of amami (sweetness) and shibumi (astringency) with a slightly grassy astringent finish. Satsumasendai is located in western Kagoshima Prefecture facing out to the Koshikijima Islands and beyond to the East China Sea. Also cut by the large Sendai River, it experiences warm breezes and an early growing season. Organic tea production in the area has increased in recent years. $18.50
	Charaku Fine Japanese Tea 2022 Shincha Variety Gift Box, 4 x 50g Charaku Fine Japanese Tea 2022 Shincha Variety Pack Gift Box, 4 x 50g. A gift box with a variety of four teas representing different teas tastes and styles from Kyushu's Kagoshima Prefecture: Okumidori Kabuse Sencha, Yutakamidori Fukamushi Sencha, Tsuyuhikari Gyokuro, and Benifuuki WaKoucha (Japanese Black Tea.) We're happy to include a personalized note for you! Just include the desired text in the Comments section of your order. $45.00
	Yutakamidori Fukamushi Sencha; Ei, Kagoshima Prefecture, 50g 2022 1st Harvest Yutakamidori Fukamushi Sencha; Ei, Kagoshima, 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Ei (Minamikyushu,) Kagoshima Prefecture Cultivar: Yutakamidori Fukamushi (literally "deep steamed") teas are steamed for a longer period of time than usual during the initial processing to arrest oxidation. The result is a tea with lower astringency, caffeine content, and a darker color. This Yutakamidori varietal infuses to a dark emerald green color, with a slight grassy aroma. The tea is buttery and smooth with good body, and a good balance of mostly amami (sweetness) and a slight finish of shibumi (astringency) on the first infusion, and delivers more astringency on latter infusions. The town of Ei, in the former county of Ibusuki in southern Kagoshima Prefecture, was combined with the towns of Chiran and Kawanabe in 2007 to make the new city of Minamikyushu. All three towns are noted tea growing regions, but Ei Sencha has often been compared to Gyokuro for the tea's reputation of being smooth and mellow. $14.50
	Tosa-cha Sencha; Nyugauchi, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku. 40g. 2022 1st Harvest Tosa-cha Sencha; Nyugauchi, Kochi Pref., Shikoku. 40g. 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Nyugauchi, Aki-shi, Kochi Prefecture. Cultivar: Yabukita Early infusions have marine air notes in both aroma and taste, with medium astringency. This tea produces a number of infusions, with a variety of tastes, with mellow notes and slight sweetness in later infusions. It is a tea that takes a bit to get to know, but rewards the drinker with a variety of taste experiences. Grandmother Komatsu "Obaachan" is 98 years old this old and still working the tea fields!br /> Tosa Han (Tosa Province) is the feudal era name of the region comprising present-day Kouchi Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. It covers a good portion of the southern and western ends of the island; facing out to the Pacific Ocean, but also with considerable mountain and valley area in the interior. It is not well-known, even in Japan, as a tea growing region; but I was surprised to learn that even during the Edo Period (1600-1868,) under the rule of the Yamauchi Clan; tea was produced and sent as an export item of the province to Osaka as part of the growing merchant economy of the time. Much of Tosa Tea is grown in the Niyodogawa River Valley, in western Kouchi, but this tea, however, is grown on the eastern side of the prefecture in an area called Nyugauchi, east of the city of Aki, at the upper basin of the Ioki River. This mountainous region has the prerequisites for good tea growing in Japan; river valleys that have appropriate climate changes from morning to evening, good rainfall, and rich soil. $8.50
	Uji Sencha, Kyoto, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Uji-cha - 2022 1st Harvest. Sencha from Uji City, Kyoto, infuses to a deep golden-green liquor with a floral and slightly grassy bouquet. The flavor is soft, yet full in the mouth, with low astringency. It is a flavor that reminds one of the elegance of Kyoto, and the fame of Uji as a producer of fine tea throughout Japan's tea history. $10.85
	Ureshino Tamaryoku Sencha, Saga Prefecture, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Ureshino Tamaryoku Sencha, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu. 50g - 2022 1st Harvest. Infuses to a light green color, and stays very smooth through 3-4 infusions. The taste displays amami (sweetness) with slightly nutty and herbaceous notes. $10.00
	NEW - Fukumidori Ichou Sencha, Sayamacha, Saitama Pref., 50g - 2022 1st Harvest NEW - Fukumidori Ichou Sencha, Sayamacha, Saitama Pref., 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture Cultivar: Fukumidori (Lucky Green) We are pleased to bring back Sayama-cha, teas from Southwest Saitama Prefecture, after a long absence. This particular tea is special as an Ichou (Withered) Sencha created by Shimizu-san of Bizenyacha in Hidaka, Saitama. The techniques of allowing a short withering period and then mild roasting creates a tea that is still Japanese green tea, but starting to lean towards an Oolong. Some call these teas Japanese Green Oolong. The result is a very smooth Sencha with grassy and floral aromatics, a good amount of amami (sweetness) with just a mildly shibumi (astringent) finish. One of my favorite aspects of this tea is the ability to maintain flavor through several infusions. $12.75
	NEW - Yumewakaba Ichou Sencha, Sayamacha, Saitama Pref., 50g - 2022 1st Harvest NEW - Yumewakaba Ichou Sencha, Sayamacha, Saitama Pref., 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture Cultivar: Yumewakaba (Dream Young Leaf) We are pleased to bring back Sayama-cha, teas from Southwest Saitama Prefecture, after a long absence. This particular tea is special as an Ichou (Withered) Sencha created by Shimizu-san of Bizenyacha in Hidaka, Saitama. The techniques of allowing a short withering period and then mild roasting creates a tea that is still Japanese green tea, but starting to lean towards an Oolong. Some call these teas Japanese Green Oolong. Yumewakaba is a bit more withered and roasted than the Fukumidori , giving it a faint smoky aroma. Like the Fukumidori, it very well balanced and smooth with grassy, sweet, floral notes followed by a slightly astringent finish. This is definitely a tea try if you have not yet tried an Ichou Sencha. $12.75 :

Gyokuro (shade grown "precious jade dew")

	Tsuyuhikari Organic Gyokuro; Satsuma, Kagoshima, 50g, 2022 1st Harvest Tsuyuhikari Organic Gyokuro - 2022 1st Harvest Origin: Satusma, Kagoshima Prefecture Cultivar: Tsuyuhikari This Organic Gyokuro from Satsuma, in mountainous central Kagoshima Prefecture, infuses to a golden-green hue, with a slight marine air fragrance despite the mountain growing region. It has medium body and the complexity of a good balance of amami (sweetness) and shibumi (astringency), but with a slightly peppery astringent finish. Satsuma Town is the result of the recent merger of the smaller towns of Tsuruda, Satsuma, and Miyanojou, a well-known tea-growing area. Although mountainous, the large Sendai River runs through it, helping to create the conditions ideal for farming. $15.50
	TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Uji Organic Gyokuro, Kyoto 50g - 2022 1st Harvest TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Uji Organic Gyokuro, Kyoto, 2022 1st Harvest. This Saemidori cultivar, Organic Gyokuro from Uji infuses to a golden-green hue, and is a smooth, yet full-bodied tea with grassy and buttery notes and a slightly astringent finish, lasting through multiple infusions. $13.50
	Yame Gyokuro, Fukuoka Prefecture, 50g - 2022 1st Harvest Yame Gyokuro - 2022 1st Harvest from Hoshino Village, Yame, Fukuoka. Infuses to a rich golden-green with a grassy and slightly woodsy aroma. Good gyokuro is often compared to a fine dashi (broth) and this tea is full in the mouth with an herbaceous, sweet, and slight marine flavors. A low temperature is needed to bring out the "amami," or sweetness, and low astringency that gyokuro is known for. $13.50

Genmaicha (sencha + roasted brown rice)

TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Kagoshima Organic Genmaicha - 2022 1st Harvest

TEMP OUT OF STOCK - Kagoshima Organic Genmaicha - 2022 1st Harvest. Organic Yabukita Sencha from Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, + Organic Brown Rice Blend from Niigata and Shizuoka. Our Organic Genmaicha infuses to a very smooth and fragrant tea with low astringency. It has the grassy notes of good Sencha, plus the warm toasty aroma of roasted brown rice.

$7.95

Kukicha/Karigane

Asahina Karigane, Stem Tea from Gyokuro; Asahina, Shizuoka, 50g -2022 1st Harvest

Asahina Karigane - 2022 1st Harvest, stem tea of Gyokuro. Origin: Asahina Valley, Okabe City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Karigane refers to kuki-cha (stem tea) made specifically from the stems of Gyokuro. Infuses to a deep golden-green in the first infusion. The flavor and aroma are grassy with a slightly sweet finishing note. Full-bodied, but with very low astringency and lower caffeine content than sencha or gyokuro. More delicate and slightly sweeter than regular kukicha.

$8.95

Houjicha (roasted teas)

Kagoshima Organic Houjicha, 40g - 2022 1st Harvest

Kagoshima Organic Houjicha (Roasted Bancha)- 2022 1st Harvest from Kagoshima Prefecture. The roasting process produces a very savory and smoky aroma and a slightly sweet flavor reminiscent of sweet potatoes or apricots, in a deep chestnut brown liquor. Very low astringency, caffeine, and tannin levels make this a smooth and mellow tea that can be enjoyed anytime by tea drinkers of all ages.

$7.50

Wakoucha (Japanese Black Tea)

Organic Benifuuki Wakoucha (Japanese Black Tea;) Kirishima, Kagoshima 50g

Organic Benifuuki Wakoucha (Japanese Black Tea) from Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, 2022 1st Harvest.
Japanese Black Tea, or Wakoucha (literally "red tea,") is not nearly as well-known as Japanese Green Tea, even though black tea has been produced in Japan since the late 1800's as an export item to Europe and the United States. The Benifuuki varietal is a cross between Assamica and Sinensis varieties, and is well-suited to creating a uniquely Japanese black tea. It has a lovely red color, and a slightly fruity flavor and aroma. The level of astringency is relatively low compared to non-Japanese black teas, so it can be enjoyed with or without milk and sugar. We hope you will enjoy this unique Japanese tea.

$10.25

Gift Box

Charaku Gift Box, Holds 2-4 50g Tea Packs

Gift Box for two to four 50 gram loose leaf tea packs. L.9"(23cm) x W.7"(18cm) x H.1.625"(4cm.) Giving tea as a gift? Add on this sturdy gift box created in Japan especially for our wrapped tea packages. All of our 50g tea packs fit these gift boxes. Note: only our Charaku Houjicha, which is lighter and needs a larger package, does not fit into our gift boxes.

$2.00