Karigane is a pleasant, softly shaded Japanese green tea with leaf stalks.
Its beautiful light green infusion is a perfect example of umami flavour, with a steaming aroma that offers deep green flavours and floral notes. The first infusion is very long in umami, with green, maize and slightly algae flavours, with a mignon aftertaste. In subsequent infusions, the flavour mellows and the green notes are joined by notes of grapes, muscatel and edamame beans. A cheerful tea, a pleasure to drink.
Karigane (雁ヶ音), also known as Shiraore (白折), is a Japanese green tea with leaves, leaf stems and twig fragments. This interesting composition gives it a very unique flavour. Karigane is often confused with Kukicha (茎茶), although there is a significant difference between the two. While the former is traditionally made from the variety bred for Gyokuro (玉露), Kukicha (see also Bōcha, 棒茶) is made from the leaves of the Sencha variety.
One of Uji's oldest tea gardens, located around Kōzan-ji (高山寺) temple, has been tended and cultivated by the Yoshida family for 16 generations. This centuries-long experience is reflected in their teas.
