GYOKURO KARIGANE 50g

Karigane is made from the stalks of gyokuro tea, and its quality can vary depending on which cut it comes from. Our Karigane is from the first, best cut. Compared to classic gyokuro, karigane has a significantly lower caffeine/theine content while retaining a high L-theanine content - making it ideal for moments when you long for calm and ease to take over. L-theanine directly affects the parts of the brain responsible for relaxation. Studies from the University of Tokyo in Japan confirmed a significant reduction in both subjective and objective stress markers among final-year medical students. (And believe us, the final year is an extremely stressful period in Japan, full of exams and stressful interviews) 

The lower theine content is an advantage here, because you can enjoy Karigane even in the afternoon without worrying about the quality of your sleep.

This karigane comes from the 2025 harvest, so thanks to proper cool aging it has already mellowed nicely, with a rounded flavor. In 2026, Mr. Sakamoto chose to focus on other teas, so we can only hope that this treasure will be available again next season. 

SHUICHIRO SAKAMOTO

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Tea farm: Sakamoto-en
Terroir: Shibushi, Kagoshima, Japan
Elevation: 190m
Certification: EU and JAS certified tea farm since 1985

Preparation

 Ideal for a kyusu teapot

 100 ml / 7g        55 °C       120 / 5 / 15 / 30 /  sec

Traditionally we use 7g of tea per 50-100ml of water.
1st infusion: Pour water at 55-60°C. After steeping for two minutes, pour off to the very last drop.
2nd infusion: Pour water of the same temperature and pour off immediately.
3rd and further infusions: gradually pour warmer water and extend the steeping time until you find yourself among the immortals.

We recommend using soft filtered water.
Increasing the temperature will lead to a sharper tea, and kukicha notes will start to appear more in the flavor. Feel free to experiment with the amount of tea too - the higher the quality of the tea, the stronger an infusion you can prepare without any taste defects. 

Packed directly in Japan in the original 50g resealable package to preserve maximum quality.