Shiraore

Shiraore belongs to the category of “twig tea” (kukicha), made from parts of the tea plant not used for regular green teas like sencha or gyokuro. For Shiraore, tea producers blend stems, stalks, and twigs leftover from gyokuro production, resulting in one of the highest-quality kukicha varieties.

This tea is prized for its sweet, nutty flavor and gentle aroma. Its natural sweetness comes from high theanine levels, which are concentrated due to the shading process used for gyokuro. Theanine contributes to Shiraore’s smooth, mellow taste, while its very low caffeine content makes it naturally non-bitter and suitable for children or evening drinking.

Shiraore is a specialty of Kyushu, but similar teas are enjoyed across Japan. In other regions, it is commonly called Kukicha (茎茶, twig tea) or Karigane (雁が音, wild goose) in Kyoto, each reflecting regional traditions in producing this unique, flavorful tea.

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Ikki Sonogi Shiraore Kukicha | 100g

Sonogi, Nagasaki | 東彼杵町長崎

$28.99

Sonogi, Nagasaki | 東彼杵町長崎

Ikki Sonogi Shiraore Kukicha | 100g

$28.99

Tasting Notes | A fresh, relaxing green tea with high levels of umami and little bitterness.

With IKKI, Nakayama san’s shiraore, you enjoy the same typical aromas of citrus of higher-quality teas but powerful umami is replaced by a more refreshing taste, called sukkiri in Japanese.

Nakao Village in Higashi Sonogi is a rural tea-farming community. The land of Nakao Village is located in a belt of hills that were created by volcanic activity long ago. It is at an elevation of around 250 meters. The valley in which the villagers reside was cut into this rock by the Sonogi River. The foothills of the mountains are often shrouded in fog, with warm afternoons and cool nights, which is perfect for growing tea.

Because of its origin, this tea benefits from the very specific taste of Higashi Sonogi tea, which sets it apart from other shiraore you will usually find in the market. This tea is absolutely perfect for cold brew, it has an unmistakable citrus taste that will make it your preferred summer drink.

Origin | Sonogi, Nagasaki Prefecture Japan 東彼杵町長崎日本

Tea Producer | NAKAYAMA KOSUKE

Preparation

At Shizen, we believe that both the tea you consume and the pottery you drink from need to be in the highest quality possible. We are dedicated to working with single harvest tea farms in Japan. Our ceramics come from many craftsman in Japan who are continuing the tradition of handmade ceramics.

Shizen Trading, Handcrafted

Shizen Cha

Shizen Cha is focused on premium grade Japanese Teas and Handcrafted Teaware.
Simply put, Shizen (自然) means "nature" & Cha (茶) means "tea" in Japan. Our loose leaf teas are picked and processed with the utmost care and precision by our tea farms who demand impeccable quality and freshness.

We believe that quality should never be compromised. We pride ourselves on transparency, clear genealogy, and clear production history. We pay close attention to every step from choosing only the finest leaves and growing, shading and steaming methods. By blending our teas in small patches, packaging by hand is how we provide the best quality tea possible.

We welcome all tea enthusiasts to join us learn more about the thousand year tea culture, with one hope, that each visit will provide excitement, knowledge and to experience tea in the best form possible.

"The Philosophy of Tea is not mere aestheticism ... for it expresses conjointly with ethics and religion our whole point of view about man and nature. It is hygiene, for it enforces cleanliness; it is economics, for it shows comfort in simplicity rather than in the complex and costly; it is moral geometry, inasmuch as it defines our sense of proportion to the universe." - Kakuzo Okakura