CHIKAKO
$20 – $23
A unique and award-winning Japanese black tea (wa-koucha) with added handpicked sakura leaves, which gives a fragrant cherry aroma to the tea. Its orange-hued liquor has notes of clover honey, black cherry, and barley syrup.
As soon as you open the bag, the delicious sweet scent of cherry leaves greets you. This tea can be enjoyed by itself as a light breakfast tea or a lively afternoon tea. It is a tea that you will want to sip over and over again.
Harashima san’s koucha is made from local black tea leaves grown in the mountains at 500 meters above sea level. A fermented tea, this koucha has a firm taste and sweetness similar to that of Assam tea – used for non-Japanese black tea – and also a characteristically Darjeeling flavor. A perfect match for sweets.
Producer
Origin
100% Japanese tea from Yame and handpicked cherry tree leaves (from Yame)
Quality and Type
Premium Japanese Black Tea (koucha)
Harashima san’s interview
Tasting Notes
Packing
Resealable vacuum bag, or aluminium bag with neutral gaz for best preservation.
Conservation
Unopened
2 years
Opened
1 year
Preparation (2 cups)
Tea quantity (2 cups)
4g /0.14oz
Water quantity
160ml /5.41oz
Temperature
95C / 203F
Brewing time
2 minutes
Reviews
Reviews
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Tasting Guide
sweetness
A sweet-tasting tea is a very light tea that leaves a sensation of natural sweetness in the mouth.
UMami
Although there is no official translation of the word “umami”, some call it “savory taste”: it leaves a mild and lasting pleasant brothy after taste and is recognized as one of the five basic tastes (together with sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness). It also induces salivation and a furriness sensation on the tongue, stimulating the throat, the roof and the back of the mouth.
BITTERNESS
The natural bitterness of green tea comes from the way it is made. Unlike black and oolong teas, green teas are made from the unfermented leaves of the tea plant, which keeps the antioxidants intact, but also gives them the bitter taste. This bitterness can be regulated with the water temperature : the higher the more bitter and vice-versa.
CAFFEINE
Caffeine is a naturally-occurring stimulant, found in several plants. Caffeine is water soluble, and is extracted into the brewed cup when preparing tea. In most cases, tea has much less caffeine than coffee.
CATECHINS
Catechins are a type of polyphenol (EGCG) and are the main astringency component in green tea, long known as tannins. In order to release more catechins you will need higher brewing temperature at around 80 but this will also increase the astringency and bitterness of your tea because of the caffeine. Dont use such temperatures for Gyokuro.
THEANINE
L-theanine (here referred to as theanine) is an amino acid that has a relaxing, but not sedating, effect. It is renowned for its ability to put you in the ideal state of calm attentiveness. It can sharpen focus, while reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being. Theanine can interact with caffeine, allowing a smaller dose of caffeine to have a stronger effect in terms of boosting concentration and alertness.
ASTRINGENCY
L-theanine (here referred to as theanine) is an amino acid that has a relaxing, but not sedating, effect. It is renowned for its ability to put you in the ideal state of calm attentiveness. It can sharpen focus, while reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being. Theanine can interact with caffeine, allowing a smaller dose of caffeine to have a stronger effect in terms of boosting concentration and alertness.
Related Products
Related products
CHIKAKO
$20 – $23
A unique and award-winning Japanese black tea (wa-koucha) with added handpicked sakura leaves, which gives a fragrant cherry aroma to the tea. Its orange-hued liquor has notes of clover honey, black cherry, and barley syrup.
As soon as you open the bag, the delicious sweet scent of cherry leaves greets you. This tea can be enjoyed by itself as a light breakfast tea or a lively afternoon tea. It is a tea that you will want to sip over and over again.
Harashima san’s koucha is made from local black tea leaves grown in the mountains at 500 meters above sea level. A fermented tea, this koucha has a firm taste and sweetness similar to that of Assam tea – used for non-Japanese black tea – and also a characteristically Darjeeling flavor. A perfect match for sweets.
Producer
Origin
100% Japanese tea from Yame and handpicked cherry tree leaves (from Yame)
Quality and Type
Premium Japanese Black Tea (koucha)
Harashima san’s interview
Tasting Notes
Packing
Resealable vacuum bag, or aluminium bag with neutral gaz for best preservation.
Conservation
Unopened
2 years
Opened
1 year
Preparation (2 cups)
Tea quantity (2 cups)
4g /0.14oz
Water quantity
160ml /5.41oz
Temperature
95C / 203F
Brewing time
2 minutes
what is matcha ?
Matcha (抹茶) is a fine powdered green tea made from tencha leaves (shaded leaves) that benefits from high theanine contents. Matcha combines an elegant aroma and sweetness, and brings a pleasant state of relaxation to both body and mind. Because the leaf powder is dissolved in hot water, all of the tea nutrients are ingested, including those that are not water-soluble (vitamin A, protein, vitamin E, minerals, dietary fibers).
In Japan, matcha is enjoyed during the Tea Ceremony, according to the Sado principles. Even if you are no specialist, to prepare your daily matcha, you will need several key accessories, such as a chawan (matcha bowl), chashaku (bamboo scoop), a chasen (matcha whisk) and a kusenaoshi (chasen holder). Since 2021, our shop includes handmade chasen made in Takayama, Nara prefecture, with 100% Japanese bamboo. Feel free to browse our tea accessories section to complete or start your collection.
REGISTER TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Stay up to date on our new arrivals, promotions and Japanese culture
"Tea is nought but this: first you heat the water,
then you make the tea.
Then you drink it properly.
That is all you need to know."
Sen no Rikyu
SHOP
COMPANY
HELP & FAQ
FOLLOW-US ON
Thomas (verified owner) –
Black tea, the Japanese way! Subtle cherry flavor. Very soothing. Worth the price if you like flavored black tea. I drink it with a gulp of oat milk and a teaspoon of brown sugar. Tastes great with 70% dark chocolate.
jmacyang (verified owner) –
Amazing taste! If you a black tea lover, you definitely wanna try this one for improved the experience of Asian style royal feeling.
Ai (verified owner) –
I bought it for my dear friend whose name is Chikako! She told me the aroma of this tea was out of the world! Got to try it myself next time!