Description Kukicha green tea (organic) Kukicha has a very low caffeine content, and a taste that differs from other green teas. This is actually a tea made from the twigs, as well as the leaf itself. Kukicha means “twig tea” in translation. As well as similar teas containing twigs, this tea is created to avoid throwing away excess parts. The twigs are quite different from the leaves, both in taste and smell. They also contain much less caffeine compared to the leaf. Therefore, kukicha is a mild tea with a low caffeine content. When the tea contains more stalks than leaves, then it takes on a less green note, and acquires a slightly nuttier note, and a taste that is also described as “summer grass”. This tea is mild and good for beginners. As well as for people who don’t want to consume too much caffeine and want to drink green tea. Kukicha contains minerals, because it is actually a stem, i.e. twig, through which minerals are transferred from the soil to the leaf itself. Kukicha green tea – history Tea used to be a luxury and only the richest could afford it. It was made only from the leaf at the very top, and everything else would be discarded. The farmers who were engaged in the production of tea often did not have the ability to afford the teas they produce, because they had limited land where they could grow tea. That’s when they came up with the idea of using discarded parts like leaf stems, to at least partially taste the tea they made. They realized that the taste of this tea was actually very nice, and soon such teas became noticed. After a while they became their own special kind, known as twig tea. The two main types of twig/stem tea are Kukicha and Karigane. Kukicha is more common and is made from stems and leaves of almost any tea. That is from the tea plant intended for any green tea. While for Karigane, specifically twigs and the remains of leaves grown for the production of gyokuro and matcha tea are used. Karigane is therefore a stronger tea compared to kukicha and its caffeine content. Country of origin: Japan PREPARATION 3 g (cca. flat tablespoon) 70 - 80ºC 2-3min
