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Sannenbancha
Kuki Pest.Free

Name: Kuki Sannenbancha
SKU: 1224
Price: 11.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

Super Premium 97 P.

SKU

1224

Very rare 100% stem sannenbancha (kuki) with elegant toasted aromas and a strong character. Aged for 3 years (jukusei). Top terroir Fujieda. 100g

Autumn harvest
100% stems (kuki)
Aged for 3 years (sannen)
High concentration of tea polysaccharides (autumn harvest, mildly sweet)
Alkaline-mineral
Low in caffeine
Rare

Character	Pleasantly sweet, elegant, pronounced toasted aromas, strong character, alkaline-mineral
Tea Garden	Leading family-owned tea farm in Shizuoka
Terroir	Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan Due to the limited amounts available, tea from other small local farms in Shizuoka is blended in.
Harvest	Beginning of October 2020 (aged for 3 years)
Cultivar	Yabukita
Steaming	Medium (chumushi, approximately 50 seconds)
Roast	Even oven-roasting in small batches of just a few kilos
Macrobiotic/TCM	Strongly yang (depending on preparation)
Elevation	150m above sea level
Organic Cert.	JAS (Japan) certified organic since 2002; EU certification since summer 2019
Laboratory Tests	Radioactivity (Region 11/2019)
Grade	97/100 p. (sannenbancha category); Super Premium

In stock

We source this tea from a young and renowned organic tea farmer specialising in the production of classic Shizuoka sencha and high-quality bancha.

Flavour

The green tea is made exclusively from select stems (kuki) from the October harvest. In accordance with tradition, these stems are aged for 3 years and only oven-roasted in small batches of just a few kilos. The tea is pleasantly sweet and elegant, has a full-body, and boasts delicate toasted aromas.

Leaf

Rough stems from the late harvest as is desirable for sannenbancha; pleasant dark brown colour.

Cup

Robust dark brown

Sannenbancha (Japanese: 三年番茶) is a special form of Bancha tea and thus a very special and rare Japanese green tea variety. "San nen" translates as "three years" and refers to the tea's three year maturation process. Sannenbancha usually has a high proportion of stems, but varies considerably: some varieties are only about 5% stems, while others are exclusively (100%) stems. In addition, the tea is roasted at different intensities. Its processing is thus significantly longer, and in this respect more elaborate, than most other Japanese green teas. The finished tea has a dark brown colour and an earthy, full aroma.

We go to great lengths to identify the finest organic tea farms across the world’s most celebrated terroirs. All our teas are sourced directly from the farmer and, with a few exceptions, are certified organic or come from pesticide-free farms. Each batch of tea for every harvest is tested for pesticides and other pollutants in an independent German lab to ensure they meet our strict quality standards as well as HACCP food safety requirements. Likewise, all the regions of Japan from which we source our teas are tested for radioactivity for every harvest.

Premium Organic Teas

Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.

Cultivation & Processing

Despite high demand, the tea farmer only uses the lower stems from the October harvest and allows the tea to age for a full 3 years (sannen). This tea is thus an authentic, fully aged (jukusei 熟成) sannenbancha. This variety of green tea is only produced in small quantities in Japan and is considered a rarity. Pure kuki sannenbancha are especially difficult to come by.

A few sannenbancha producers in Japan reduce the maturation period and mix in the produce of earlier harvests to increase the yield, but at the expense of the tea's taste. Exclusively using 3-year-aged stems and production in small batches ensure an even roasting and optimal retention of flavour. This processing method also guarantees uniform macrobiotic properties.

Single Origin

This tea is predominantly sourced from the above mentioned tea farm in Fujieda, Shizuoka; however, small amounts of tea from other local tea farms in Shizuoka are blended in to increase the yield. Sourced directly from the tea farmer.

Preparation

Brewing Guide

For best flavour (balanced, yang)

1 heaped tbsp per 200-300ml (60°C) water. Steep for 2 minutes. Suitable for several infusions.

As a cold brew / mizudashi (sweeter and refreshing, lower yang)

3 heaped tbsp per 1L room temperature or chilled water. Steep for 60 minutes in a mizudashi pitcher or flask.

For a stronger tea (robust and bitter, maximum yang)

3 heaped tbsp per 1L water, briefly boiled. Allow to simmer for 5-45 minutes on very low heat. Strain.

Packaging

High quality, airtight, resealable standing zipper pouch with 9 protective layers to preserve flavour and protect against oxidation and contamination. The tea is vacuum packaged according to the highest standards in Japan, with a small quantity of nitrogen added to the package to protect against oxidation.

Recommended Teapot

The ideal teapot for sannenbancha is a dobin made with brown clay or a black tokoname kyusu, which is a good all-rounder for preparing green teas. Alternatively, a glass teapot with a large sieve can be used. When preparing a cold brew, it is recommended to use a specially designed pitcher for mizudashi.

Recommended Storage

Ideally store green tea in a quality tea caddy made from cherry tree bark (wooden, kabazaiku chazutsu) or an airtight, double-coated metal tin.

Test results

We find it very important that our teas are pure and produced in a way that respects the environment. For this reason, each one of our teas is tested for pesticide residues by an independent laboratory, the results of which can be found here. Some of our teas are also tested for specific nutritional compounds, in which case the test results are also published here.

Confirmation of analysis

See tests

Sannenbancha
Kuki Pest.Free

Tea Farm