Tasting Notes - Roasted Kukicha "Karigane or Bocha"

Classification: Kukicha roasted (Karigane/Bocha) – Roasted Green Tea - organically grown.
Cultivar: Yabukita
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka prefecture
Grade: Roasted stem tea made from high quality Sencha/Gyokuro with about 10% of leaves 
Leaf: Straw colour stems and softly green leaves, shiny, sleek and tiny in appearance releasing an aroma of roasted nuts and strong vegetal under tones.
Infused leaf: Bright, green stalks, unified in colour. Vegetal aroma of broccoli and garden peas and overpowering roasted notes.
Liquor: Vivid, orange colour cup with just tiny murkiness. Very sweet creamy liquor, roasted, woody, nutty and vegetal (kale and broccoli). Well balanced cup with dark chocolate after-taste and no astringency. Delicious tea for the evening (high in the "calming" amino acid Theanine, but low in caffeine.

About: Kukicha/Karigane or Bocha is a same tea made of stems from high quality grade teas such as Sencha or Gyokuro. To obtain the stems, workers use a special pair of small scissors to trim off the first several centimeters of stem from below the leaf, then the stems are baked to create sweet roasted aroma The stems are naturally low in caffeine and gives a very sweet and less astringent taste to the tea. This kukicha is very similar to Genmaicha, but because it is made of better quality spring Sencha, rather than summer Bancha, it is more alive, fresh and sweeter in taste. You can enjoy this tea brewed with cold water.