Single variety

Even within a variety, different flavours can develop depending on the time of picking, growing location or vintage, which are usually balanced out by blending teas from different cultivars.

However, some basic characteristics are usually retained. An example of this is the high catechin content of Benifuuki or the beautiful green colour of Yutaka Midori.

To emphasise this, with the two Gyokuros, the hand-picked Sae Tezumi and the KEIKO Shinchas, we not only have saisonal teas, apart from the Shincha Classic, these are also single-variety teas. You can find more pure KEIKO teas in this article.

Sortenreine Tees im KEIKO Shop

Aki Benifuuki - Organic Japanese Green Tea

This Japanese green tea from the autumn picking is very tenderly fermented. It is made from the tea variety "Benifuuki". It is characterised by a high content of the special active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG 3). The caffeine content of the autumn picking is comparatively low so that the tea is also suitable for the afternoon. The yellowish, clear cup has a milder aroma than the first two pickings with a gentle citrus note. The bitter constituents contained in the cup only become clearly apparent in taste when prepared strongly and infused for a long time. Storage In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we recommend to seal the bag well and store it cool and dark - ideally in your refrigerator or freezer.

Content: 0.05 kg (€199.00* / 1 kg)

€9.95*

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Benifuuki No. 1 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

Unlike regular Green Tea this Japanese green tea specialty from the 1st picking in May is slightly fermented. It comes from the tea variety "Benifuuki" and has a very high content of the antioxidative or antiallergic catechines EGCg and 3MeEGCg (EGCg3). The scent and flavor of this years harvest, when all conditions are just right during the time of the Benifuuki Spring picking surprised even us. We are delighted by this new harvest: As soon as you open the package a wonderful smell streams out, characteristic for Benifuuki and a little like that of very fine Oolong tea. The leaf structure is good and of a luscious green. In the cup the tea develops a soft green color with golden reflexions and caresses the tongue with playfully fruity and light with a subtle tartness and the elegant notes of jasmine in the scent. Storage In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we recommend to seal the bag well and store it cool and dark - ideally in your refrigerator or freezer. The production and also the fragrance are similar to that of Oolong tea. However, the freshly harvested leaves are not simply heated, but steamed briefly at especially high temperatures. Furthermore, the partial fermentation does not take place in a warm environment as with Oolong, but in the dark at a low temperature. Only the further drying and pressing process corresponds to that of Oolong tea. Thanks to this special processing this unusual tea stays green like a real Japanese tea!

Content: 0.05 kg (€259.00* / 1 kg)

€12.95*

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Benifuuki No. 2 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

This Japanese green tea from the 2nd picking is very tenderly fermented. It is made from the tea variety "Benifuuki". This is characterized by a particularly high content of the special active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate 3 (EGCG 3), which reaches its peak similar to the caffeine content at the 2nd picking. The yellowish-green, clear cup has a slightly tart aroma with a floral note, which is particularly emphasized when the infusion time is shorter. The production and also the scent is similar to that of the Oolong tea. However, the freshly harvested leaves are not simply heated, but steamed for a short time while overheated. Furthermore, the partial fermentation does not take place in a warm environment as with Oolong, but in the dark at a low temperature! Only the further drying and pressing process corresponds to that of Oolong tea. Storage In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we ask you to seal the bag well and store it cool and dark - ideally in your refrigerator or freezer.

Content: 0.05 kg (€219.00* / 1 kg)

€10.95*

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Benifuuki Powder - Organic Japanese Tea Powder

The tea cultivar Benifuuki is characterised by a particularly high content of catechins (EGCG and EGCG3) which are readily available to the body and for this reason it is often drunk in Japan for allergies such as hay fever. PreparationBenifuuki Powder can be whisked up with water using a Chasen, just like Matcha.The catechins give this golden green powder a strong and astringent aroma, which makes it very economical in use. Already half the usual (Matcha-)dosage results in a finely fragrant tea. Aficionados like to drink it pure. For those who find the taste too tart, we recommend a mild dosage, a combination with mild mulberry leaf powder or the use as a supplement in drinks and food. Prepared with a little water and lemon and/or apple juice, it is, for example, a wonderfully refreshing drink. Storage In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the powder in the best possible way, we recommend to seal the bag well and store it in a cool and dark place, ideally in your refridgerator or freezer.

Content: 0.05 kg (€399.00* / 1 kg)

€19.95*

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Gyokuro Kiwami - Organic Japanese Green Tea

Enjoy a harmonious aroma with the fine sweetness typical of Gyokuro, paired with a refreshing fruity spice and a long, full-bodied aftertaste. For the first time we can now offer a premium Gyokuro from the highlands of Kagoshima. The tea bushes are only harvested once a year. In two stages, the tea plants are shaded for a total of 3 weeks and slightly steamed for about 40 seconds (Futsuumushi). The infusion of the small dark green needle-shaped leaves presents itself in the cup with a green that is unusually intense for Gyokuro, especially in the second infusion, and a fresh, invigorating fragrance. We recommend three infusions at 50-60°C for this tea, the fruity aromas are particularly effective in cold infusion. Fully shaded teas from organic cultivation are particularly rare, as the tea plants are also particularly prone to parasites in the strong shade and special diligence and experience are required for cultivation. However, the effort is rewarded with a very special, multifaceted density of aromas. Storage In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we ask you to seal the bag well and store it cool and dark - ideally in your refrigerator or freezer.

Content: 50 g (€64.00* / 100 g)

€32.00*

Japanese Black Tea Kawanabe - Organic

This exceptional black tea is obtained from the Benifuuki variety and derives its name from the Kawanabe (Chiran) region in Kagoshima, where Shimodozono Biofarm is located. The variety gives the tea a fragrance reminiscent of vineyard peach and jasmine, while the tart flavours that characterize this variety as a green tea fade into the background due to fermentation. Unlike regular black tea, the fermentation time for this Japanese black tea is somewhat shorter. It enchants with a fine-scented, amber-coloured cup and striking, elegant taste.

Content: 0.05 kg (€255.00* / 1 kg)

€12.75*

Japanese Black Tea Yakushima - Organic

A honey-golden cup colour and a flowery rounded aroma characterise this black tea from the name-giving island Yakushima, a dreamlike natural idyll of the Kagoshima Prefecture about 60 km south of the main island Kyushu. Amidst the lush forests of a nature reserve, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the tea grows here in small tea gardens, which are cultivated by the Fujiwara family according to EC organic guidelines. In contrast to conventional black tea, the fermentation time for this Japanese black tea is somewhat shorter and varieties are used that are traditionally used mainly for green tea.

Content: 0.05 kg (€255.00* / 1 kg)

€12.75*

New

Sae Gyokuro 2024 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

The organic cultivation of fully shaded Gyokuro is an art that finds its perfection in this exclusive tea. Enjoy the velvety texture and a pristine aroma with the innocent fruity sweetness reminiscent of young sugar peas, which results from an especially high theanine content. From the prized cultivar Sae Midori our farmers have created a real treasure: the Sae Gyokuro. With a velvety texture, a pristine aroma and an innocent sweetness reminiscent of young sugar peas. A tea that invites you to dream. As a seasonal tea, Sae Gyokuro is only harvested once a year and available only while stocks last. In two stages, the tea plants are shaded for a total of 3 weeks and slightly steamed (chumushi). We recommend three infusions at 50-60°C for this tea, the fruity aromas are particularly effective in cold infusion. Fully shaded teas from organic cultivation are particularly rare, as the tea plants are also particularly prone to parasites in the strong shade and special diligence and experience are required for cultivation. However, the effort is rewarded with a very special, multifaceted density of aromas. In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we recommend to seal the bag well and store it cool and dark in the refrigerator or freezer.

Content: 40 g (€90.00* / 100 g)

€36.00*

Sae Tezumi 2024 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

Sae Tezumi is made from the award winning cultivar Sae Midori using only the best leaves carefully selected and picked by hand. The result is a wonderfully clear, lively tea with a fresh sweetness, a light green cup and a slight aroma of fresh pine needles in spring. The harvest by hand also entails a smaller harvest amount - so get your share now, stocks are limited! Kabusecha is a green tea for which the tea plants are shaded, thus forming a high content of chlorophyll and other active ingredients and at the same time little bitter substances. Their characteristic "shade aroma" is called "ooika". <h3>Preparation</h3> For the hot infusion of Sae Tezumi , we recommend an infusion temperature of 65°C and a brewing time of 70 seconds for the first infusion. For the second infusion, a shorter infusion time of about 30 seconds is sufficient, you can then let the last infusion steep a little longer again (70 sec) to bring out the full flavor. The Sae Tezumi is a normal steamed tea (Chumushi) and also suitable for cold infusions (Mizudashi). Infusing this tea with cold water will take a little longer than for Fukamushi tea but creates a slightly sweet, light taste and a light green colour. Simply steep the tea leaves for about 7-10 minutes. Since the bitter substances do not dissolve as strongly in cold water, the sweet aromas of the Kabusecha are especially noticeable. In order to preserve the precious flavours and ingredients of the tea as best as possible, we recommend to seal the bag well and store it in a cool and dark place in the refrigerator or freezer.

Content: 40 g (€70.00* / 100 g)

€28.00*

Shincha Yume 2024 - Organic Japanese Green Tea

A harmonious, multi-layered tea with a velvet-like soft texture, that develops into a fruity sweetness on the tongue. This year, we have once again refined the dream flavour of the Yume Kaori cultivar with the sweet note of the Sae Midori cultivar. Special features Shincha - the ‘new tea’ heralds the start of the tea year every spring. The first tea from the fine, particularly aromatic leaf tips, which are harvested in the subtropical climate of Kagoshima as early as mid-April. In order to capture the fresh flavour in the best possible way, shincha is dried a little lighter than usual for sencha in the final processing stage, giving the teas a special freshness that seems particularly pronounced in Shincha Yume. Cultivars: 70% Yume Kaori from the KEIKO organic farm in Kawanabe (Chiran) 30% Sae Midori from the Komaki brothers (Minami-Satsuma) Kabusecha is a green tea produced by shading the tea plants for a period of 7-10 days before harvesting, which results in a high content of chlorophyll and other active ingredients and a low level of bitterness. Their characteristic ‘shade flavour’ is called ‘ooika’. Early harvests such as Shincha Yume also have a particularly high theanine content, which is noticeable in the sweet flavour. Preparation We recommend an infusion temperature of around 60°C for a particularly round, flowery flavour. Leave the first infusion to infuse for about 1 minute. A few seconds are then enough to extract the flavour from the leaves. For the last infusion, you can increase the infusion time again to tease out all the flavour. If the tea still turns out stronger than desired, the flavour intensity can be slightly adjusted by adding a little more water. Deep steamed early harvests are particularly suitable for cold infusions (mizudashi). Even with cold water, Shincha Yume develops a particularly silky texture and a refreshing clarity of flavour after just 5 minutes of infusion. The sweet theanine notes also come into their own particularly well, as the bitter substances do not dissolve as much in cold water. Storage To preserve the tea's valuable flavours and ingredients as much as possible, please close the bag tightly and store it in a cool, dark place in the fridge or freezer.

Content: 0.05 kg (€640.00* / 1 kg)

€32.00*

Not available

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