The holidays are fast approaching! Let Ikkyu guide you through our top suggestions for gifts this holiday season.

Looking for a stocking stuffer or a stunning centerpiece? Our guide has it all. If you are still undecided, why not browse our all year round Gift Ideas page ? You will find anything a tea beginner or a fine connoisseur could wish.

Gyokuro Box

Brand new for 2024 is the IKKYU GYOKURO BOX, representing the best of the best that ikkyu has to offer. This collection of three Yame Dento Hon Gyokuro is a veritable treasurebox for the discerning gyokuro fan. It samples from across the Yame region, with three different producers represented.

YOHEI, a Yabukita competition gyokuro from Oku Yame, has a rare floral fragrance that sets it apart from its sisters.

MIYAKO is an elegant, sweet Sae-Midori gyokuro from Koga Chagyo that boasts several national awards and is a returning customer favorite.

MAIKO, the crown jewel of this already resplendent set, is a limited-time single cultivar, single-origin dento hon gyokuro from Hoshino Village. Made by a three-time national award winner, MAIKO is a once-in-a-lifetime taste. Suitable for: connoisseurs, daring tasters, beloved collectors, elegant acquaintances

ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO
ATSUKO

ATSUKO - High-Grade Sencha

Sale price $12.00
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Description

2024 first harvest 

Mizota san expertly blended the Yabukita and Saemidori cultivars to create the lightly steamed ATSUKO sencha. This tea is a very accessible, high-quality sencha to enjoy daily. It has a vibrant and sweet liquor with notes of fresh bean sprouts, watercress, and lily. Mizota san was able to create a tea that tastes like springtime, with a simple and elegant liquor.

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IKKI
IKKI
IKKI
IKKI
IKKI
IKKI
IKKI

IKKI - High-Grade Shiraore

Sale price $10.00
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Description

2024 first harvest

This high-grade kukicha, or shiraore, is a great offering from Nakayama san in Higashi-Sonogi and one of our all-time bestselling teas. IKKI’s bright green liquor is filled with refreshing citrus notes with hints of steamed asparagus and barley.

IKKI can be enjoyed throughout the day, as a nice afternoon tea, or a refreshing cold brew or iced tea. A sweet price for a 100g bag of stunning green tea.

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NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI
NAOMI

NAOMI - Premium Organic Sencha

Regular price $26.00
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Description

2024 first harvest 

This delicious organic sencha from Chiran area (Kagoshima) is plucked during the first harvest by Orita san, one of the first tea producers to turn to organic farming in Japan in the 1970s.

This deep-steamed (fukamushi) sencha is the perfect tea if you are looking for one with a full, rich mouthfeel. Orita-san has created a tea that beautifully represents Chiran. This tea is very aromatic and vibrant, and has notes of fresh spinach, pea tendrils, and yuzu peel.

Now in 100g, and also available in bulk quantities (15% off for 5 bags, and 20% off on packs of 1kg)

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Mirakugama Cups

One can never have too many teacups. The KUJU RENZAN collection from Mirakugama in Fukuoka offers a range of cups for sencha or gyokuro. Each is crafted using the clay at the kiln itself, which has been coveted for its quality for over a century. The glazes are handmade by the Kamei family themselves, resulting in a rich, naturally spontaneous variety that reflects the Kyushu landscape.

These paper-thin stoneware cups are named after six peaks of the Kuju mountain range, the ruddy earthen slopes that make up “the roof of Kyushu.” Take a trip across the varied hills and vales of our home island.

Mix and match to make a gift set, or choose one for a stand-alone gift.

Suitable for: too-much-tea friends, afternoon tea fans, Japan enthusiasts

OUR MATCHA CORNER

Matcha Gift Box

We recommend a silver can of our MIYUKI matcha as a welcome addition to any matcha lover’s collection. Consider this a delicious replacement to a bottle of fine wine you might send along this holiday season. A fan favourite.

MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI
MIYUKI

MIYUKI - Premium Organic Matcha

Sale price $26.00
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Description

Organic matcha is rare in Japan in general, and in Kyushu in particular. Selected by the highly skilled team of Koga Cha Gyo in Yame, the leaves of this competition-grade organic matcha come from Kagoshima.

Hand-picked during the first harvest of the year, this ceremonial matcha is a true gem that will win the hearts of the most demanding matcha lovers. Its deep emerald color will impress you, along with its sweetness, perfumed notes and savory umami.

With its light touch of astringency and creamy aftertaste, this matcha offers you a refined experience. 

Food pairing recommendations

You may enjoy this tea by itself or pair it with a wagashi, a piece of chocolate, or a dark chocolate truffle. This matcha may also be paired with light seafood dishes or with a semi-soft cheese like smoked gouda or havarti, or sifted onto a salad with spring greens and fresh fruit, like strawberries.

For even more information and guidance on MIYUKI, you can enjoy the complete review by Alex Ahearn in our tasting corner. 

Package
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A Whisk Above

Give your matcha-drinking friend a truly exquisite addition to their matcha set. The KUBO SABUN whisk is painstakingly hand-made by a 24th generation master. This elevated tool will take your sado practice to the next level.

KUBO SABUN
KUBO SABUN
KUBO SABUN
KUBO SABUN

KUBO SABUN - Dark Bamboo Matcha Whisk

Regular price $42.00
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Description

This elegant handmade matcha chasen in dark bamboo has 100 bristles and is suitable for whisking both thick (koicha) and thin (usucha) matcha. Easy to use and long-lasting, this whisk is used by tea ceremony teachers across Japan. It is decorated with a beautiful handwoven red thread.

Made in Takayama (Nara prefecture) by Kubo Masaki, the 24th generation of a chasen-making family, and recognized as National Living Treasure for his skills.

Origin
100% handmade dark bamboo whisk from Takayama (Japan)

Use
For making thin Usucha (薄茶) and thick Koicha (濃茶) matcha

Quality and Type
Dark bamboo; 100 bristles

Dimensions:
H: 12 cm, diameter: 6 cm

Use instructions

Handmade whisks are more fragile than those made in a factory because the bristles are much thinner. To avoid bending the bristles and breaking the chasen, don't press the tip of the chasen against the bottom of the bowl. 

Learn all you need to know about how to use a handmade chasen to prepare matcha with our tea instructor, Yuka san!

Care instructions

Before using a chasen for the first time, let it set in hot water for 10 minutes in your matcha bowl, head down. Only dip half of the hosaki, the strings of the chasen, in the water.

Afterward, wet the chasen a little before every use to soften the bristles for making more foam and prevent damaging them.

Cleaning instructions

Rinse your matcha whisk carefully by whisking it in clear hot water in the same bowl you used for preparing your matcha. Running water is acceptable but only if the flow is light, to avoid damaging the strings. If needed, use your fingers to gently remove remaining matcha.

Do not let the bamboo sit in water as it will damage the whisk. Do not put your matcha whisk in the dishwasher, dryer or use any dish soap!

Afterward, store your chasen either strings facing up (never directly in contact with a surface), or better yet, use a chasen holder (kusenaoshi) that will allow the bristles to dry and keep their shape.


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A Delight to Hold

A striking teacup is the perfect enhancement to a cup of tea. For a sophisticated touch of local clay, the white MADARA TEACUP captures a an early, snowy morning with the hint of a dark pine forest in the background. For a matcha cup that captures the colours of the season, the KEMARI BALL MATCH BOWL delivers a traditional striped ball design edged in gold.

Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV
Nakazato Tarouemon XIV

MADARA CUP

Regular price $56.00
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Description

A delicate and exquisite white tea cup in clay, made in accordance with the Madara Karatsu style (going back to the 16th century), also called “White Karatsu ware”. This cup was glazed with an opaque high silica, using rice straw ash, which melts and interacts with the iron in the clay body and the ash from the pinewood used in the kiln.

This creates a milky surface mottled with spots or areas of blue and black. An exceptional tea cup handmade at the kiln of the 14th generation Nakazato Tarouemon in Karatsu, under his direct supervision.

Sold in a wooden box decorated with hand calligraphy, for a special gift.

Dimensions

Height: 6.2 cm
Diameter: 6.8 cm
Capacity: 80ml

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Miyaji Eiko
Miyaji Eiko
Miyaji Eiko
Miyaji Eiko
Miyaji Eiko

MIYAJI EIKO - Kemari Bowl

Regular price $44.00
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Description

A nice and elegant cream matcha bowl (chawan) in ceramics with a kemari ball design, from the Miyaji Eiko kilns. A kemari ball was a kind of football used by courtiers at the Imperial court in pre-modern times.

Recommended for matcha and tea ceremony beginners.

Miyaji Eiko is the name of a famous matcha-making brand in Kyoto and represents the hard work and skills of several bowl designers, potters and painters specialized in ceramics painting, all coming together to bring premium quality chawan at a reasonable price for everyday use. This 'division of labor' between specialists makes it possible to produce affordable high-quality bowls. Miyaji Eiko bowls are inspired by traditional and unique pieces.

Height: 7,5cm - 2.95 inches
Diameter: 12,5cm - 4.9 inches

To enjoy your matcha, it is recommended to use a bowl designed for its preparation as well as a chasen (bamboo whisk). A bamboo scoop will provide the exact quantity (2g). (Whisk and scoop sold separately)

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No More Gift Baskets

Instead of a plastic-wrapped bunch of pears, give the gift of quality tea with our IKKYU EXCELLENCE BOX. This selection of teas (SATORI, MITSUE, and AIKO) are perfect for gyokuro fans and a brilliant introduction to the genre for others.

IKKYU EXCELLENCE BOX
IKKYU EXCELLENCE BOX
IKKYU EXCELLENCE BOX
IKKYU EXCELLENCE BOX

IKKYU - Excellence Box

Regular price $88.00
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Description

This gift box brings together 3 x 50g of some of the finest green teas made in Kyushu, and is the perfect gift for the most discerning tea connoisseurs looking for an unforgettable experience.
Enjoy the incredible taste range and powerful umami of MITSUE Competition-grade Sencha, SATORI Dento Hon Gyokuro, and AIKO Premium Sencha. The teas are wrapped by an extra thin sheet of traditional Japanese paper (Washi).

The box includes a detailed description of each tea, brewing instructions and the producers' profiles. The teas are wrapped by an extra thin sheet of traditional Japanese paper (Washi). The box includes a detailed description of each tea, brewing instructions and the producers' profiles.
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100 USD & UP

The Whole Package

If you’ve a loved one or friend who enjoys meditative moments in the morning, might we suggest the LUXURY MATCHA SET? A health-conscious alternative to a fine espresso or the ever-present morning latte, this matcha set includes everything needed to convert your friends to the matcha experience. Function, beauty, and flavor all wrapped in an elegant Ikkyu box.

Shock and Awe

Bring out the big guns with the highest quality gyokuro for those with the most discerning palette. SATSUKI, our dento hon gyokuro, is excellence bar none. A handpicked blent of two incredible cultivars, it is guaranteed to enchant and impress. A special selection by Tea Master Kiya san.

SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI
SATSUKI

SATSUKI - Premium Dento Hon Gyokuro

Regular price $154.00
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Description

With SATSUKI, we bring you one of the crown jewels of tea master Kiya san. Grown and handpicked in Yame, this dento Hon Gyokuro is an extraordinary blend of the rare and exceptional Kirari31 cultivar and the sweeter Saemidori, the two best cultivars for making gyokuro. Thanks to the skills of Kiya san, you will go on an unforgettable taste and flavor journey.

One of the main features of Kirari31 cultivar is the thicker mesophyll of its leaves that yields an exceptional level of rich and savory umami. The Saemidori cultivar brings floral and fruity notes to the cup. From the first sip, you will enjoy a savory broth-like feeling on your tongue, similar to traditional dashi soup, as well as edamame and chestnut notes. The round liquor will linger for a long while on your palate, with just the right level of astringency afterwards.

Up to five brews can be prepared with a gyokuro of such exceptional quality. We recommend following Kiya san’s steeping instructions for the first three brews.

If you’d like to learn more about Yame dento hon gyokuro, you can visit our special page about Gyokuro here as well as our Yame tea page. Please also watch the interview of Kiya san explaining about the parallels between green tea (especially gyokuro) and wine.

 

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