THE 1899 CHACHACHA TEA GIFT SET

Description

Honoring tradition with a selection of delicious teas: The 1899 CHACHACHA tea set combines four different Japanese teas, and is the perfect seasonal or birthday gift.

• A first-flush, single-cultivar (tsuyuhikari) high-grade fukamushi sencha, with a smooth flavor filled with umami, with low astringency and a refreshing aroma.
• A high-grade fragrant and gently sweet houjicha that will warm you during cold winter evenings.
• A comforting and flavorful genmaicha, easy to prepare and enjoy, with a light green liquor.
• A high-grade koucha, made of benifuuki and sayakamakori cultivars from the first harvest, with a vibrant color and a smooth mouthfeel.

With this elegant gift set, Ikkyu is proud to start our collaboration with the distinguished 1899 tea brand from Tokyo. At a time when the spotlight is on matcha consumption and tea in pet bottles, we wish to support initiatives and efforts for promoting premium Japanese loose-leaf tea not only at the international level, but also inside Japan, among the younger generations.

About The 1899 Tea Brand

The 1899 tea brand was created by the owners of the historical ryokan (Japanese inn) Ryumeikan Honten established in 1899 in Ochanomizu, and praised by the Japanese artistic world as one of Tokyo's most distinguished establishments. Anecdotes still remain of artists who stayed at the inn and left their paintings behind in lieu of lodging fees. 

The 1899 tea brand was launched in 2014 with the goal to introduce new Japanese elements into traditional cuisine.

The owners prioritize tea education and connections with tea farmers from Saitama. Events for children are organized to provide hands-on opportunities to explore the various aromas and forms of loose-leaf tea. They have introduced programs for elementary school students, including short educational segments suitable for school projects. While these activities are aimed at children, they also give adults, particularly parents, a chance to reconnect with tea.  

The owners form partnerships with innovative tea farmers and those whose values align with theirs. They visit tea farms in person to engage directly with producers. In Sayama, they host events inviting customers to participate in tea picking. In summer, they participate in volunteer activities for Ishizuchi Kurocha, a tea whose production techniques have been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Ehime Prefecture.