Kabuse - Premium Yabukita Kirara (Competition-Grade)

This tea will make you say “delicious.” Crafted with the full expertise of Houkouen, a designated tea producer for the Japanese Imperial Household, it delivers intensely concentrated umami and a captivating aroma. Highly recommended for serious tea lovers, this Kabusecha was entered in the Japan National Tea Competition and represents the pinnacle of quality.

Grown naturally without trimming branches on a specially dedicated farm, the tea bushes develop fully and slowly throughout the year. Unlike other tea bushes, they are harvested only once a year by hand, selecting just one bud and two leaves to ensure the purest flavor.

In the heart of Shizuoka at an elevation of 350 meters, Houkouen Tea Farm sits on the lush, green mountains of Ryogouchi. Over 20 varieties of tea are cultivated and processed on these steep tea fields, where Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance. At Houkouen, their philosophy is simple: they pay respect to the tea and let it follow its natural course without unnecessary human interference. This is to create teas that are truly a product of nature. 

What sets Houkouen's tea apart is its distinctive fragrant aromas, unique to the mountainous areas of Shizuoka, that are challenging to replicate.

Houkouen's tea is carefully cultivated in nutrient-rich soil, with minimal pesticide and without over-fertilization, allowing natural umami and aroma development in their tea.  Adhering to the wisdom of their ancestors that "crops thrive on the sound of footsteps," Houkouen farmers tend to their fields with great care. Whether everyday or specialty teas, Houkouen meticulously crafts and delivers high quality Japanese tea to all tea enthusiasts.

Location: Ryogochi, Shizuoka
Taste Profile: Oceanic Umami, Roasted Almond, Elderflower
Cultivar: Yabukita (Single Cultivar)
Steaming Level : Light (Asamushi)
Harvest Method: Hand-picked

Umami: ◾◾◾◾◾
Sweetness: ◾◾◾◾◾
Astringency: ◾◾
Aroma: ◾◾◾◾◾

Best for : Advanced tea lovers seeking truly delicious Kabuse. Also highly recommended as a gift for someone special.

How to brew:
- Use 6-8g of tea leaves. (2 servings)

- Add 100ml of 150°F water
- Steep the tea for 1 minute.

- Squeeze out every last drop before serving.

Best by date: 12 months (unopened)

45g (5 sealed packets, each containing 9 grams of loose leaf tea)