Merkaba Teas, Kukicha, Green Tea

Origin: Japan.

Certainly no ordinary twig tea, a visually stunning, finely blended style of desirable upper stems. Inexpensive and an enthusiast's tea, it is
nevertheless rarely seen outside Japan. Light & delicate, sure to be an instant favorite.

Kukicha is also called stick or twig tea owing to the long thin shape of this leaf-stalk blend. Also known as the “peasant's drink“, so-called
because farmers drank it after selling the leaves to sophisticated urbanites as a cash crop.

Kukicha Tea is created in Autumn when the last tea harvest takes place and the caffeine level is at its lowest. The tea is made by collecting
the stalk fractions of Gyokuro and Sencha. The small twigs and some dried leaves are picked from the tea bush, allowed to age and dry
before steaming to soften them. It is strictly made from stalks produced by harvesting of one bud and three leaves. The leaves go on to make
Gyokuro and high graded Sencha. They then undergo a traditional process that calls for four separate roastings in wood fired, iron
cauldrons. This process delivers a rich roasted flavor and aroma. This patient and ceremonious roasting slowly develops the distinctive
flavor and aroma that has made Kukicha Tea so popular.

Kukicha tea was popularized in the U.S. and Europe in the 1960s by George Ohsawa, the founder of macrobiotics. Mr. Ohsawa considered
kukicha to be the perfect complementary beverage for a grain based or mostly vegetarian diet due to its alkaline qualities and very low
level of caffeine. among macrobiotic and natural food aficionados.

Kukicha is the lowest in caffeine of the traditional teas, 90 percent less caffeine than regular brewed coffee. Because caffeine is
concentrated in the leaves, twig tea is low in caffeine and can be drunk even at night. And is considered to be an ideal beverage for both
children and adults. Try it and you will understand why true connoisseurs of Japanese twig tea will drink nothing else.

Kukicha is rich in natural tannins that aid digestion of grains and has a peculiar ability to neutralize both acids and alkalines in food.
Kukicha blends well with apple juice. Simply mix half kukicha and half apple juice for a perfect beverage for children. It is one of the most
popular teas sold in natural food stores.

It is soothing and balancing with a rich flavor and ideal at meal’s end. Kukicha is also perfect for blending with any of our black, green or
oolong teas for an interesting twist.