Shincha Yakushima 2023 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

<h2>Shincha 2023 - Spring in the cup!</h2> Shincha - the "new tea" heralds the beginning of the tea year every spring. The first tea from the fine, particularly aromatic leaf tips, which are harvested in the subtropical climate of Kagoshima already in mid-April. This year, however, it was particularly exciting: a late frost at the beginning of April severely affected some of the plants of the early cultivars,so that their harvest quantity was significantly reduced. Until the first tasting, we were unsure how much this would show in the taste. Fortunately, our colleagues on site have done a masterful job in determining the right harvest time, choosing the steaming intensity and the degree of drying.   Aracha Shincha 2023 consists of the raw tea "Aracha" from the three cultivars: - Yutaka Midori from KEIKO Organic Farm in Kawanabe (Chiran). - Asanoka from the Komaki brothers (Chiran) - Yabukita from the KEIKO organic farm in Kawanabe (Chiran) Aracha Shincha brings the unique green fresh ooika aroma of Aracha raw tea to Europe. With its wild, intensely green and grassy scent of the freshly harvested tea fields, it conjures the tea spring directly into our cups and is the closest to the original taste of the tea plant. This year it is again composed of three cultivars, perfectly matched with their different flavors and fragrances - grassy with a lively spiciness. To bring out the fresh scent, the infusion temperature of 65 -70°C may be chosen a little higher here. <h3>Specifics</h3> Aracha is a partially processed green tea, which is reflected in the original, natural aroma. When tasting the raw teas directly after harvesting, they are infused in particularly high doses and hot in order to taste the special characteristics of the tea. A higher infusion temperature (about 70°C) also brings out the aroma of this tea particularly well - let yourself be whisked away to the tea gardens of Kagoshima with the intensely grassy aroma of freshly steamed tea leaves! Like many KEIKO teas, this tea is an intensively steamed tea (Fukamushi-cha, 100 - 120 seconds steaming time). The gentle steaming opens the leaf pores and the extracts from the tea leaf pass more easily and quickly into the water. This can be recognised by the deep green colour of the tea in the cup and the yield of the tea. Early pluckings such as Shincha Aracha also have a particularly high theanine content, which is noticeable in the sweet taste. <h3>Preaparation</h3> In order to bring out the fresh fragrance, the infusion temperature of 70°C may be chosen somewhat higher here. Intensely steamed early pluckings are particularly suitable for cold infusions (Mizudashi). Even with cold water, Shincha Classic develops a particularly silky texture and refreshing clarity after only a few minutes of infusion. The sweet theanine notes also come out particularly well this way, as the bitter substances do not dissolve as strongly in cold water. <h3>Storage</h3> Please note that Shincha Aracha is a raw tea and less dried than all other KEIKO teas. Aracha should therefore be enjoyed fresh and not stored for too long - we have set the best-before date for this tea at 6 months from production here in Diepholz, with us it is stored frozen! We therefore recommend that you seal the bag tightly and store it in a cool, dark place in the fridge or freezer to preserve the valuable aromas and ingredients of the tea in the best possible way.

<h2>Shincha 2023 - Spring in the cup!</h2> Shincha - the "new tea" heralds the beginning of the tea year every spring. The first tea from the fine, particularly aromatic leaf tips, which are harvested in the subtropical climate of Kagoshima already in mid-April. This year, however, it was particularly exciting: a late frost at the beginning of April severely affected some of the plants of the early cultivars,so that their harvest quantity was significantly reduced. Until the first tasting, we were unsure how much this would show in the taste. Fortunately, our colleagues on site have done a masterful job in determining the right harvest time, choosing the steaming intensity and the degree of drying.   Aracha Shincha 2023 consists of the raw tea "Aracha" from the three cultivars: - Yutaka Midori from KEIKO Organic Farm in Kawanabe (Chiran). - Asanoka from the Komaki brothers (Chiran) - Yabukita from the KEIKO organic farm in Kawanabe (Chiran) Aracha Shincha brings the unique green fresh ooika aroma of Aracha raw tea to Europe. With its wild, intensely green and grassy scent of the freshly harvested tea fields, it conjures the tea spring directly into our cups and is the closest to the original taste of the tea plant. This year it is again composed of three cultivars, perfectly matched with their different flavors and fragrances - grassy with a lively spiciness. To bring out the fresh scent, the infusion temperature of 65 -70°C may be chosen a little higher here. <h3>Specifics</h3> Aracha is a partially processed green tea, which is reflected in the original, natural aroma. When tasting the raw teas directly after harvesting, they are infused in particularly high doses and hot in order to taste the special characteristics of the tea. A higher infusion temperature (about 70°C) also brings out the aroma of this tea particularly well - let yourself be whisked away to the tea gardens of Kagoshima with the intensely grassy aroma of freshly steamed tea leaves! Like many KEIKO teas, this tea is an intensively steamed tea (Fukamushi-cha, 100 - 120 seconds steaming time). The gentle steaming opens the leaf pores and the extracts from the tea leaf pass more easily and quickly into the water. This can be recognised by the deep green colour of the tea in the cup and the yield of the tea. Early pluckings such as Shincha Aracha also have a particularly high theanine content, which is noticeable in the sweet taste. <h3>Preaparation</h3> In order to bring out the fresh fragrance, the infusion temperature of 70°C may be chosen somewhat higher here. Intensely steamed early pluckings are particularly suitable for cold infusions (Mizudashi). Even with cold water, Shincha Classic develops a particularly silky texture and refreshing clarity after only a few minutes of infusion. The sweet theanine notes also come out particularly well this way, as the bitter substances do not dissolve as strongly in cold water. <h3>Storage</h3> Please note that Shincha Aracha is a raw tea and less dried than all other KEIKO teas. Aracha should therefore be enjoyed fresh and not stored for too long - we have set the best-before date for this tea at 6 months from production here in Diepholz, with us it is stored frozen! We therefore recommend that you seal the bag tightly and store it in a cool, dark place in the fridge or freezer to preserve the valuable aromas and ingredients of the tea in the best possible way.

Item No. 40206.1 Beautifully delicate, white teacup made on a hand operated potters wheel in a small manufacture in Germany. The cup has a silky matte surface on the outside and a glossy, thin celadon-glaze on the inside. The slightly translucent, thin and lightweight composition of the porcelain make this cup a delight to drink from. Each of these handcrafted cups is unique, so shape, colour or size may vary slightly while small particles of ash may leave beauty marks on the cup, giving each its own allure. Maximum capacity 290ml Measurements: 10,5 x 6,7cm The teacup can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Item No. 42200 The Ooika- Cold brewer for the preparation of drip tea can be used with hot OR cold water. However, it is ideal especially for cold brew green tea highlighting the rich yet sweet green fragrance of high quality Kabusecha, known amongst tea-connoisseurs as Ooika. The Cold brewer consists of two glass vessels which are connected with a rubber base with a small opening, which lets the water drip into the stainless steel strainer underneath and then into the lower vessel. To prepare your cold drip Green Tea measure 2-3 teaspoons of tea into the sieve (make sure the tea covers the bottom of the strainer evenly) and fill the upper vessel with 600 to 900ml of water. You can also use ice cubes to make a Kouridashi-brew, either letting them melt slowly to drip over the tea or just add them to your tea once its ready. The preparation takes between 25 and 45 minutes. You can adjust the speed by pushing the little knob deeper into the rubber base to slow the water flow or pulling it back out to speed it up. Best suited for this type of preparation is deep steamed (fukamushi) Kabusecha from an early picking, as these will best release the aroma and all the valuable ingredients of the tea but also the least astringency. Our Tip: Serve the cold drip tea in wine-glasses to surprise your dinner guests with a tasty refreshing alternative to alcohol!