Wa-Kōcha: Organic Black Tea
& Oolong from Japan

A honey-golden cup colour and a flowery rounded aroma characterise this black tea from the name-giving island Yakushima, a dreamlike natural idyll of the Kagoshima Prefecture about 60 km south of the main island Kyushu. Amidst the lush forests of a nature reserve, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the tea grows here in small tea gardens, which are cultivated by the Fujiwara family according to EC organic guidelines. In contrast to conventional black tea, the fermentation time for this Japanese black tea is somewhat shorter and varieties are used that are traditionally used mainly for green tea.

This exceptional black tea is obtained from the Benifuuki variety and derives its name from the Kawanabe (Chiran) region in Kagoshima, where Shimodozono Biofarm is located. The variety gives the tea a fragrance reminiscent of vineyard peach and jasmine, while the tart flavours that characterize this variety as a green tea fade into the background due to fermentation. Unlike regular black tea, the fermentation time for this Japanese black tea is somewhat shorter. It enchants with a fine-scented, amber-coloured cup and striking, elegant taste.

The KEIKO Special Tea segment represents our "non-green" teas. Rarities that are difficult to find but have convinced that they deserve their spot on tea shelves everywhere. The KEIKO Japan Oolong Karasu is the newest addition to this range. Oolong tea is "half-fermented", which means it can be placed in between the very lightly fermented KEIKO Benifuuki teas and the Japanese Black Teas Kawanabe and Yakushima.Oolong originated in China and is translated as the "black dragon". The Japanese signs used for Oolong tea differ slightly and are a combination of the signs for crow, dragon and tea. The sign for crow on its own is read "Karasu" - giving a name to our tea.Like the Japanese Black Tea Yakushima the KEIKO-Oolong is grown in the organic tea garden of the Fujiwara family on the beautiful island of Yakushima - a lush, subtropical paradise that has been declared UNESCO world natural site. It is made from the first spring harvest of the undshaded tea plants of our signature cultivar Yutaka Midori.<b>Aroma:</b>Oolong Karasu has a particularly soft, velvety aroma with a honey-like sweetness, subtle vanilla notes and the delicate fruity taste of ripe peaches.<b>Preparation:</b>Oolong is traditionally "washed" with the first infusion by pouring hot water over it and draining it directly. You can omit this step with this oolong and let the first infusion steep at about 90°C for about 1 minute - this allows you to enjoy the full range of flavor of the tea.The tea has a clear orange-golden color in the infusion and has a very high yieald. It can be re-infused several times with a few seconds of infusion time, the infusion time can then be extended again slightly for the last infusion. <b>Storage:</b> We recommend to store the opened packade in a cool and dry space.