green tea

Japanese Green Tea

The earliest reference to tea in Japan was from the early 9th century when Buddhist monks brought tea from China. However, it was only later in 1191, when the famous Zen monk, Myōan Eisai (1141-1215), brought tea seeds from China to be planted in Kyoto, that tea cultivation earnestly began in Japan. Twenty years later, in 1211, his book Kissa no Yōjōki ("Treatise on Tea Drinking for Health") popularized tea consumption to the samurai class. Japanese tea culture developed over the centuries. It was in the Muromachi period (1392-1573) when Zen Buddhism was embraced by the warrior class, that chado ("The Way of Tea") flourished. The modern Japanese tea, (sencha) as we know it today was developed only in 1738 in Uji, Kyoto, when Nagatani Sōen (1681-1778) introduced a new process of steaming, drying and hand kneading & rolling to obtain loose tea leaves. Prior to this, Japanese tea had been pan-roasted. Thus, the Uji region in Kyoto, with its lush, rolling hills and nutrient-rich soil, earned its reputation as producing the best tea in Japan. Though much sought after, Uji tea represents only 3-5% of all Japanese tea.

All our green tea are shipped directly to Halifax from the tea farm in Uji, Kyoto, Japan.

Gyokuro Superior

The finest Japanese tea. Gyokuro tea leaves are carefully grown in the shade 20-30 days before harvest. Gyokuro tea has a light green colour and imparts an elegant aroma and smooth sweet taste. The name “gyokuro” literally translates as “jade dew”.

To brew: 1 tbsp good for 1 cup. Use 65℃. Steep for 120 sec.

Gyokuro Superior 100g $24.95

Sencha Superior

The most popular tea in Japan today. Sencha tea leaves are grown in direct sunlight and are immediately steamed after being picked to prevent further oxidation. The leaves are then dried and rolled, producing the bright green, needle-like shape. Sencha tea produces a golden yellow-coloured brew that has a great balance of gentle aroma, mellow flavour and a faint bitter taste. Try it with sushi.

To brew: 3/4 tbsp good for 1 cup. Use 80℃. Steep for 60-70 sec.

Sencha Superior 100g $16.95

Sencha Superior Pyramid Tea Bag 70g* $17.95

*Each pack contains 14 pyramid tea bags.

Sencha Fukamushi Superior (Deep-Steamed Sencha)

Sencha green tea subjected to prolonged steaming. The process causes the leaves to split and gives the resulting brew a stronger flavour without adding to its light bitter taste. When brewed the tea leaves dissolve more readily producing a cloudy green colour. Our personal favourite.

To brew: 3/4 tbsp good for 1 cup. Use 80℃. Steep for 40-50 sec.

Sencha Fukamushi Superior 100g $16.95

Sencha Karigane Superior (Sencha Stems)

Tea made from high-grade sencha stems and veins. The tea stems provide a unique sweetness giving karigane a different flavour from sencha. “Karigane” means “wild goose”. The tea is so named not because it looks like a goose but rather because it looks like the driftwood floating in the sea. Wild geese perch on the wood to rest as they migrate.

To brew: 1 tbsp good for 1 cup. Use 80℃. Steep for 60-70 sec.

Sencha Karigane Superior 100g $14.95

Genmaich Matcha-iri (Sencha with Roasted Brown Rice & Matcha)

This is a mix of sencha green tea, puff-roasted brown rice and matcha (powdered green tea). It gives a hearty popcorn-like aroma that blends beautifully with the freshness of sencha. The matcha adds a mellow touch to the tea. Tea colour is cloudy green due to the matcha. This tea grows on you.

To brew: 1 tbsp good for 1 cup. Use 80℃. Steep for 60-70 sec.

Genmaicha Matcha-iri 100g $9.95

Genmaicha Matcha-iri Pyramid Tea Bag 70g* $11.95

*Each pack contains 14 pyramid tea bags.

Houjicha (Roasted Sencha)

Pan-roasted sencha. Low in caffeine, the tea gives a soft, transparent brown colour with a delightful roasted aroma. If you like black tea, then houjicha may well be to your liking. A great tea to finish off the evening meal.

To brew: 1½ tbsp good for 1 cup. Use boiling water. Steep for 15-30 sec.

Houjicha 80g $6.95

Houjicha Pyramid Tea Bag 56g* $8.95

*Each pack contains 14 pyramid tea bags.

Matcha

Like gyokuro, matcha tea leaves are grown in the shade about 20-30 days before harvest. After the leaves are steamed and dried, they are ground into a fine powder using stone mills. Matcha is well-known as the tea used for the Japanese Tea Ceremony; however, it can also be enjoyed without the ritual. Dissolved in hot water, the tea powder is whipped into a frothy beverage using a bamboo tea whisk (chasen). Matcha has a vibrant green colour, giving a harmoniously balanced taste of sweetness, bitterness and mildness. Matcha is also used as an ingredient in a variety of drinks and desserts such as matcha latte, green tea ice cream, etc. Please try our matcha chocolate too!

To brew: see our matcha recipes page.

Matcha (in can) 40g $19.00

Truffini Matcha Chocolate Truffle Bar* (50g) $2.50