OUR PICK | Yame Kukicha [Imperial Grade]

One of our tea master Mr. Le's favorites when it comes to Japanese tea is Yame Kukicha [Imperial Grade], both for its taste and its nutritional qualities. He discovered this tea many years ago during a trip to Japan and has since introduced it to the Canadian market.

The original Kukicha recipe, developed in the Fukuoka region (also known as Bōcha in that region) a long time ago, is made from 4 harvests of premium leaves and twigs. It was initially created by tea farmers to nourish them while they worked in the fields all day.

Yame Kukicha, as created by its Fukuoka ancestors, yields a tea that is reputed to be 2x more nutritious than average teas and contain 2x less theine. It is, therefore, an excellent tea to drink later in the day when one needs a pick-me-up. Its opaque green liquor, tending towards a milky texture, is rich in taste and offers a toasted, malty note, an intense aroma reminiscent of mango, and the famous umami; the buttery taste which is a sign of quality and nutrients, typical in Japanese teas. It is an excellent and very affordable vintage considering its quality!

**Do not confuse Kukicha from the Fukuoka region with those from central Japan, such as Uji and Shizuoka, which generally produce a lower quality using leftover tea leaves from different harvests and are intended for a different market.