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Gyokuro Karigane

Gyokuro Karigane

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$25.00
$37.00 $25.00
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Learn all the secrets of the Gyokuro Karigane

The gyokuro karigane is a delicious sweet and fruity green tea made with a combination of tea stems and shaded tea leaves and it works great as a cold brew

Taste

Gyokuro Karigane flavor chart

Discover the results of Nio Teas’ 4 step tea tasting method

When evaluating the flavor of Gyokuro Karigane, we take into account not only the aroma and tasting notes but also how the tea interacts with the palate. We carefully examine various aspects of the tea such as dryness, acidity, minerality, sweetness, and umami. Furthermore, we also pay attention to the texture of the tea, assessing whether it is thick or thin in consistency. Additionally, for Gyokuro teas, we have an additional criterion, which is the vegetal taste profile. This is a characteristic present in all Gyokuro teas, and we evaluate and compare it on a spectrum.

Step 1 - Observing the Appearance

The leaves of the gyokuro karigane are dark green, which contrast sharply with the bright yellow stems. The leaves are curled into tight thin needle shapes and the stems are cut short.

Step 2 - Assessing the Aroma

There is a powerful aroma coming off the wet leaves, with floral, hay and marine notes. The aroma begins to drift off more into the seaweed directions as the leaves begin to cool.

Step 3 - Tasting the Tea

The gyokuro karigane begins with an alluring sweetness, which quickly develops a strong mineral dimension. In the mid palate, you get a light fruitiness with notes of cantaloupe and honeydew. The tea has a strong, umami finish and leaves behind a cooling cucumber note.

Step 4 - Evaluating the sensation on the palate

The mouthfeel of the gyokuro karigane is quite dense, with a tingling minerality on the sides of the mouth. The umami flavor weighs quite heavily on the back of the tongue and there is a strong sweetness on the front and the top of the palate.

100% Organically grown and Ethically Sourced

We like to work exclusively with farmers who cultivate tea plants without the use of pesticides or chemicals. This approach yields remarkable results not only in terms of tea flavor but also in the health of the tea fields.

We have observed that tea farmers that follow this practice are not only able to grow great tasting green tea, but they also encourage the flourishing of wildlife in the surrounding areas.

Nio Teas Unique Organically grown sourcing process

  • An individual taste testing each of the teas to assess their quality
  • Communication with the farmers about the unique aspects of the cultivation and production of the teas. 
  • Visiting the tea farms in person to ensure the teas were produced with thought and care
  • Exploring the tea fields to make sure the tea is sustainably grown and respects the surrounding ecosystem
JAS Japanese Agriculture Standards logo

JAS Certified

The JAS logo found on our packaging is an abbreviation for Japanese Agriculture Standards, which signifies that the product has been cultivated without the use of pesticides or chemicals as certified by the Japanese government. To ensure that our teas are strictly produced using organic methods, we require our larger partner farms to acquire this JAS certification through soil sampling and testing.

Smaller tea farms may find it challenging to obtain JAS certification due to the associated costs, and therefore, we accept their products under the "pesticide-free" label. We aim to provide these smaller producers with an opportunity to sell their products while maintaining our high-quality standards across our product line.

How to prepare the tea

For the optimal flavor of gyokuro karigane, it's advised to brew it at a lower temperature. This helps to bring out the sweet and savory notes that the tea is known for. Higher temperatures may lead to bitterness.

  • icon of a teapot with temperature brewing instruction in degree for 60 degree celsius and 140 degree fahrenheit

    Step 1

    Before you prepare your green tea, make sure you heat up the water to a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature for the Gyokuro karigane.

  • icon of 5 grams of tea leaves

    Step 2

    Add 5 grams of Gyokuro karigane to your kyusu teapot or shiboridashi.

  • icon of a teapot with time brewing instruction of 2 minutes

    Step 3

    Pour in 150ml of water and allow the tea leaves to sit and brew undisturbed in the water for 2 minutes.

  • black icon of a cup of tea

    Step 4

    After the tea leaves are done brewing, you can pour out your tea and if you have a kyusu teapot it will automatically filter out the leaves so they don’t end up in your cup. Enjoy your tea!

  • icon of a teapot with time brewing instruction of 20 seconds

    2nd brew

    In the first infusion of the gyokuro karigane, you'll notice that its sweet and savory flavors are the most prominent. But, don't throw away the tea leaves yet! They still hold a lot of flavor. To get more out of your tea, add hot water to the teapot and let the leaves steep for an additional 20 seconds for each subsequent brew.

  • icon of glace of matcha latte with ice cubes

    Cold brew

    In addition to working great well with the traditional brewing method, the Gyokuro karigane can also be prepared with cold water to make a delicious and refreshing cold brew! If you want to learn how to cold brew this tea, you can read our article all about cold brewing gyokuro in our blog section.

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Necessary teaware

For preparing gyokuro teas like the gyokuro karigane, the Kyusu teapot is the most suitable tool, although you might also enjoy using a shiboridashi. If you want to create a concentrated "shot" of umami flavor, we suggest using the shiboridashi, but for everyday brewing, the Kyusu is the ideal choice.

Alternative without teaware

In case you don't have a teapot, a tea strainer is the next best option for making Gyokuro karigane. However, since the tea leaves don't have enough room to expand as they do in a teapot, the resulting flavor won't be as intense. Nevertheless, using a tea strainer allows you to strain the tea leaves and prevent them from ending up in your cup.

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mr sakamoto farm in japan

Location of production and farmer

Information about the farm

The esteemed Gyokuro karigane is proudly crafted by Mr. Sakamoto, an experienced organic green tea farmer hailing from Southern Japan. With decades of experience in the industry, Mr. Sakamoto has pioneered sustainable methods for producing incredibly flavorful gyokuro tea without relying on pesticides or chemicals.

Throughout our numerous encounters with him over the years, we have been consistently impressed by Mr. Sakamoto's unwavering dedication to his tea fields. Rather than taking shortcuts, he has invested additional time in developing his organic fertilizer, which incorporates natural elements such as organic compost and sedimentary rock mulch.

Thanks to Mr. Sakamoto's fertilizer, the soil in his tea fields is enriched with nutrients, allowing the tea plants to produce robust and healthy leaves without damaging the surrounding ecosystem. Given the challenges of producing delicate teas like gyokuro using traditional methods, Mr. Sakamoto's gyokuro tea is genuinely exceptional.

map with the location of kagoshima tea fields in Japan

Sourced in Kagoshima

Japan

The Gyokuro karigane is cultivated in the town of Shibushi, located in Kagoshima, Japan, and it flourishes in Kyushu's southern region. The area boasts a warm subtropical climate, seasonal rainfall, and rich volcanic soils, all of which play a significant role in the tea's exceptional quality.

Cultivar and tea plant variety

The gyokuro karigane is made using the Yabukita cultivar, the most popular tea plant variety in Japan. This cultivar is quite easy to grow, which makes it a popular choice for Japanese green teas like this.

  • Yabukita

    Yabukita is a widespread cultivar in Japan thanks to its resilience. Yabukita can withstand the comparatively cooler climates of Shizuoka, which is where 40% of Japanese green tea in Japan is produced. This cultivar is known for producing a strong savory flavor as well as a distinct vegetal characteristic.

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Free Worldwide Shipping & Delivery

Nio offers free shipping on all orders and selects the most cost-effective shipping carrier based on your location. Typically, customers located in the U.S. and E.U. can expect delivery within 5-7 days, while those outside these areas may experience a waiting period of up to 10 days. For faster delivery, we offer express delivery options for a nominal fee.

Order issues

If you encounter any issues with your order, please contact us at info@nioteas.com for prompt resolution. For quick questions, reach out to us through direct message on Instagram at @nio_japanese_green_tea.

Payments

We accept major credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay for payment, as well as bank transfers. If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, select this option at checkout, and we'll provide you with the necessary details. Once we receive your payment, we'll dispatch your order immediately.

Returns & Refunds

We strive to ensure that every customer has a positive tea-drinking experience. If you're not satisfied with the tea you receive, please let us know, and we'll send you a replacement. You don't need to return the original tea; instead, feel free to share it with a friend who might enjoy it.

Gyokuro Karigane learning plateform

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