Tea originating from a single field is known as non-blended. Such a tea is crafted directly as a result of the conditions of the land of that particular field, the Terroir. Thus, the taste of a non-blended tea describes the scents and flavors of that very specific region, as crafted solely by Nature. In contrast, teas are often blended by the tea master to ensure a balance of taste, or in accordance with the taste requested by a customer. However non-blends allow the tea-drinker to experience a tea of uniform taste and singularity that cannot be replicated by any other field. An well balanced non-blended tea can be hard to come by. However, at Rishouen Tea, we offer non-blended teas of only the highest quality, housing a perfection that only Nature can create. (For more information regarding the important role the concept of Nature plays in Japanese tea, please see our Philosophy of Japanese Tea page.)

A small spatula-like spoon used for measuring out Matcha powder. In the days when Matcha was only able to be enjoyed by the elite, Chashaku were used as poison detectors. Being made of silver or ivory, they would react to arsenic by changing color. Nowadays, Chashaku are usually made from bamboo or other wood native to Japan.

When many people think of Mochi, they think of sweets like Mochi wrapped ice-cream. In Japan too, use of Mochi, or glutinous rice, is most frequently used in Japanese pastries known as Wagashi. But Mochi has several other applications too. The origin of the Mochi rice paste is of course rice, but not just any rice, Mochi rice! We include this high quality kind of rice, slightly toasted, in our Genmaicha tea, providing it with a delicious and recognizable flavor.

Karigane is a term specific to tea, to describe the inclusion of tea tree stems in with the tea leaves. One may think that this lessens the strength or quality of the tea, but it actually refines the flavor and changes it slightly. The inclusion of Karigane in a tea can also add efficiency to brewing, as the stems insure an even separation of the leaves. Inclusion of Karigane marks a more mature tea as well. (The method of infusion used for Karigane varies depending on the type of tea with which it is blended. Please see Gyokuro Karigane, Houjicha Karigane, or Sencha Karigane for more information.)

Iribancha is a tea with quite a particular method of manufacturing that yields a unique, primordial taste close to the first teas ever brewed. Tea is roasted in a gigantic 5 foot wide (1.5 meter) iron pan, so that the tea leaves are slightly seared in places. Iribancha has been a traditional tea particular to the Kyoto area for hundreds of years. Please note that Iribancha differs from Houjicha in that with Houjicha preparation, tea leaves are rolled and evenly roasted. The flavors are very different, we assure you! (For specific instructions on how best to infuse Iribancha, click here.)

A finely carved whisk of bamboo, used for the preparation of Matcha. The Chasen blends Matcha powder and water together to create a smooth, well-blended tea. Quality Chasen can be purchased from Rishouen Tea for 3,000 yen, as we consider them indispensible in the creation of Matcha.

Hojicha is blended Sencha that has been evenly roasted to provide a completely different drinking experience. Roasting completely changes not only the flavor and aroma of the tea, but its naturally occurring components too. Caffeine content is significantly lessened through roasting, and thus this tea is frequently enjoyed by those sensitive to caffeine. Tannin content, responsible for the acidic aftertaste accompanying some teas, is also nullified. The result is a tea that is easy to prepare and easy to consume, hot or cold.

(For specific instructions on how best to infuse Hojicha, click here.)

Kabusecha describes tea that is halfway between Gyokuro and Sencha in its method of production, and therefore in its flavors. Like Gyokuro tea, Kabusecha is shaded for a period of time before harvest, but for a shorter duration, and less severely. The result is a superbly even balance between theanine and catechin, the components responsible for the flavors of Umami and astringency respectively. (For specific instructions on how best to infuse Kabusecha, click here.)

Gyokuro refers to a tea that has been cultivated under very special conditions to heighten its quality. Some of the most renowned teas of China come from areas where fog blocks the direct rays of the sun for a period of time during growth. For Gyokuro cultivation, we simulate a similar process. The tea plant is shaded with a fine screen for at least three weeks during the crucial period of growth, just before harvest. Photosynthesis provokes the transformation of Theanine, an amino acid responsible for the Umami flavor, into Catechin, responsible for the astringency of tea. Thus, in limiting photosynthesis for a short period of time, the bitter taste of this tea is heavily muted, and the Umami taste is brought into the foreground. Please see the definition of Umami for more information regarding this important aspect of Japanese tea. (For specific instructions on how best to infuse Gyokuro, click here.)

Like Gyokuro and Kabusecha, the Tencha quality of leaf is grown in a shaded environment for a period of time. High quality Tencha is characterized by a brilliant green leaf, possessing heavy flavors of Umami and very little astringency. Tencha is rarely consumed as a tea, for it has not undergone the final process required to make it infusible. Instead, it is most frequently ground into Matcha powder, which is then mixed with water for consumption. It can also be used as a flavoring agent in high-end gourmet kitchens.