What is Kukicha? This refreshing kukicha is a specialty from Ayumi Farms, coming from their 88th night tea harvest. Recall that kukicha literally means "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. When preparing this tea, there is no need to cool the hot water (i.e., the boiled water can go straight into the tea pot). It can also be enjoyed cold in the summer time. Produced by Ayumi Farms: Cyittorattu, this kukicha was produced through their cyclic philosophy of giving back to the earth and then, receiving again from the earth. The soil of the tea bushes of this kukicha was enriched with the solids discarded by a traditional local soy sauce maker, sake kasu (rice discarded after being fermented for sake), from a local brewery and straw from their own farm. If you sense carefully, you may be able to taste the mountainous notes of this kukicha! Product Info Net weight: 35 grams / 1.23 oz Cultivation & Processing Notes: No pesticides, no chemical fertilizers Region: Fujieda, Shizuoka prefecture Storage: Store sealed airtight in cool, dry area avoiding sunlight. Steeping Notes Tea: 3 grams Time: 30 seconds Water temperature: 70C/160F degrees Water amount: 100 ml About the Tea Farmer Name: Ayumi Kinezuka Vendor Type: Family business (Ayumi Farm: Cyittorattu) Location: Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka, Japan 426-0134
