Today we’re looking at our Sencha Extra Green. An excellent choice for those who want a tea that balances the grassy, higher notes of Sencha with the soft, sweet notes of ceremonial grade Matcha. These teas are pretty easy to brew as well, I usually just use boiling water but does well with 180F water. As Matcha also contains a high amount of L-theanine, this tea offers an extra boost of calmness with each cup. What results from the initial brew is a vibrant green cup of goodness to satisfy yourself and perhaps a friend. The color of this tea is one of my favorite parts, besides the taste the ..read more

A first flush sencha born of the early Spring, the Sencha Taniba is a sencha-lover's sencha. It has a bright, almost sharp taste and feel while still being quite delicate. Lower temperature water can yield a milder flavor while brewing with hotter water will bring out more of the astringency. When tasting this tea, I continued to get notes of watermelon rind, pasta, rice paper, spinach. When drinking this tea, it felt like I was drinking gentle sunlight. It is not that the tea had a warming affect necessarily but that the feeling of the tea could be described as bright, clear, and radiant. I ..read more

I would imagine that there are a good amount of people who do not know what gyokuro is. Sencha and matcha are both popular styles of tea, but gyokuro doesn't seem to be mentioned or appreciated as much as these styles of Japanese tea. Gyokuro is a very relaxing tea. It contains higher amount of L-Theanine than any other loose leaf green tea because of shading process. L-Theanine is a unique amino acid found in tea and very few other sources and is known for its benefits as a relaxant. L-theanine suppresses the stimulant function of caffeine and this is why high quality green tea helps you to ..read more

Definitely still a favorite tea of mine. Out of all the teas we offer, it think this tea works great for me and my lifestyle. It's quite easy to brew, is 100% organic, and is blended with matcha so the drinker gets those benefits as well. Did I mention that it also tastes and smells fantastic? Beautiful color to the organic sencha and organic genmai. This is a classic that I usually take as my Japanese daily drinker. When brewing the initial steep the combination of the roasted rice aroma and the sweet aroma of the matcha fills the room. While the roasted rice smell is a bit easier to imagine ..read more

As we talked about is a recent post, there is a style of tea that is made entirely of stems known as kukicha. There is a style of kukicha that is made wholly of gyokuro stems. This tea is known as karigane. Karigane comes in a roasted form, and we carry this is as well. It is called Karigane Houjicha. Our Karigane-Houjicha goes through a lighter roasting process then our standard houjicha. This allows the karigane to still retain its rich umami character while having a pleasant roasted aroma and flavor. You’ll notice here that the color of the brew is a bit lighter as well, and appears m ..read more

As the winter chill seeps in, do your fingers search for a warm refuge, and do your toes yearn for some toasty delight? When winter's chill caresses us, there's no comfort like a steaming mug of winter Houjicha blends.  Today, we invite you into my warm tea haven as we discover the magic of winter Houjicha blends that not only chase away the cold but caress the soul. Plus, let's delve into some of the handpicked Houjicha recommendations from Den’s Tea. Winter’s Warm Embrace: Why Tea Blends are a Must-Have? While you can choose from a variety of base teas, the spirit of winter Houjicha re ..read more

While our current tea of the month is our Houji-Genmaicha, there are other types of houjicha that we offer. The one I am featuring in this blog post is our Houji-Kukicha. While we might understand that the "houji" (or "hoji") part of the word means "roasted", some might be unfamiliar with the other part of word, "kukicha". So, what does this mean? What is kukicha?  Kukicha is a unique looking tea in that it contains stems and stalks from the production of Sencha. Prior to the roasting, it brews up a light, transparent green color with a mildly sweet, bright taste. Add roasting into ..read more

As the chilly mornings and evenings roll in, finding ways to keep warm becomes more than just a comfort—it's a necessity. In recent years, a unique health trend has emerged from Japan, known as "Warming Activities" or "Wankatsu (温活)." This trend emphasizes the importance of maintaining our core body temperature, especially during colder months. But here's something intriguing: there's a specific tea that aligns perfectly with this trend, enhancing its benefits. Have you ever heard of it?  In this blog, we'll not only dive deep into the numerous health benefits of "Wankatsu" but also intro ..read more

Our Houji-Genmaicha is our tea of the month this month. So, I thought it'd be appropriate that I wrote a little blog describing it. In general, I would advise that you try not to drink tea too late into the evening, not just because of whatever caffeine might be present in the tea, but tea or really any amount of liquid at night will be a cause of you going to the toilet in the early morning, like 1AM or 2AM. Not fun. That being said, Houji-Genmaicha can be a great tea to drink in the early evening if you choose to as Houjicha in general is known to carry a lower amount of caffeine. This is a ..read more

As the remnants of summer slowly fade and we're greeted by the golden hues of autumn, there’s one tea that deserves your attention - the Autumn-Winter Bancha. This comforting tea is more than just a warm brew; it's a season in a cup. For those keen to explore and optimize their tea journey, let's delve deeper into the world of Autumn-Winter Bancha. Understanding Autumn-Winter Bancha  The Autumn-Winter Bancha is distinct from your usual tea. Harvested from the buds of late autumn to early winter, this tea offers a blend unlike any other. While there are four main tea harvests annually – f ..read more