ByFood Japanese Tea Box

Japan is one of the top tea-producing countries in the world. Each type of Japanese tea has its own distinctive color, flavor, and aroma, making it a wonderfully versatile drink. Full of ​​antioxidants and with less caffeine than coffee, tea is a healthy, tasty, and refreshing drink to enjoy every day. In this box, we feature six different Japanese teas. From the everyday sencha to the sea-harvested konbucha, enjoy a culinary journey through Japan's many different teas. SENCHA (NATURALLY CULTIVATED) (自然栽培 煎茶) Producer: Kenichi Nature Farm Prefecture: Nara Amount: 40g loose leaf Sencha is the most widely available tea in Japan. The leaves are grown in direct sunlight and tend to be harvested in the first or second flush. The leaves of the upper shoots, which are the youngest and of higher quality, are then steamed, dried and rolled into needle-like shapes, which helps to intensify the flavor. Sencha has a delicate sweetness and a mild astringency. GENMAICHA (BROWN RICE TEA) WITH MATCHA (抹茶入り玄米茶) (Certified Organic) Producer: Azuma Chaen Prefecture: Kyoto Amount: 40g loose leaf Genmaicha (lit. brown rice tea) is made from unprocessed brown rice that is soaked, steamed, roasted and popped before being combined in an equal ratio with green tea. The brown rice adds a toasted, nutty flavor and results in a tea with less caffeine. HOUJICHA (ROASTED SENCHA GREEN TEA) (煎茶ほうじ茶) (Certified Organic) Producer: Azuma Chaen Prefecture: Kyoto Amount: 50g loose leaf Instead of just steaming green tea leaves, houjicha is made by first steaming and then roasting the leaves in a porcelain pot over charcoal at 200°C, resulting in a tea with a nutty, caramel-like flavor. The leaves have a distinct earthy color and the tea is less bitter than other green teas. It has minimal caffeine making it a great choice even for children or before bed. KONBU CHA (KELP TEA/BROTH) (昆布茶) Producer: Nagaike Konbu Prefecture: Osaka Amount: 40g This Konbu Cha is a savory, salty Japanese seasoning that can also be mixed with hot water and sipped on as a tea/broth. Using additive-free ingredients produced entirely in Japan, the kelp and beet sugar come from Hokkaido, while the specialty salt is produced in Hyogo Prefecture’s Ako City and is one of Japan’s most highly-regarded salts. Matcha powder, the fine, vibrant green powder used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and is arguably Japan’s highest quality tea, is also added, resulting in an umami-rich, bitter yet salty and sweet seasoning. KUROMAMECHA (BLACK SOYBEAN TEA) (黒豆茶) Producer: A-Net Farm Prefecture: Hokkaido Amount: 7 x 3g tea bags Soba, the Japanese name for buckwheat, is a key ingredient in one of Japan’s most popular noodles. Not actually a type of wheat, soba is a highly nutritious seed that can be roasted to create a traditional Japanese tea known as sobacha. Delivery Time: 10-14 days on average