Kukicha
Wikipedia: Kukicha | Teaviews: kukicha-teaLast Updated: Mar. 14, 2014
↑About Kukicha
Kukicha(茎茶) or twig tea, less commonly called bocha(棒茶), is a Japanese green tea made of the stems, stalks, and twigs of the tea plant. Kukicha has a unique flavor and aroma. Surprisingly, its aroma is twig-like.Sometimes kukicha is roasted to make hojicha. Roasted twig teas are commonly labelled as both hojicha and kukicha; when in doubt, look at the actual leaf or written description to see whether you are purchasing a roasted or unroasted tea, and whether it is made of leaves or twigs.
Kukicha can be made from the plants used to produce gyokuro, in which case it is called karigane or shiraore.
It is a common claim that kukicha has less caffeine than other teas, due to the fact that the stems of the tea plant contain less caffeine than the leaves and buds. This generalization, however, is not universally true; one study (in which only one kukicha was tested) found kukicha to have relatively high caffeine content among green teas.[1] The caffeine content of tea is influenced by many factors.
References:
1. Friedman, M. et. al. Distribution of catechins, theaflavins, caffeine, and theobromine in 77 teas consumed in the United States, Journal of food science, Vol. 70, No. 9, Nov-Dec, 2005. p. C550-C559.
↑Recent Kukicha Reviews — RSS
I liked this tea. I decided to get it because I wanted something that wasn't roasted or aged, that would still be more subdued in caffeine. I prefer naturally low-caffeine teas over ones that have had caffeine removed through some chemical (or other) process. Because kukicha is the twigs, with some leaf pieces (which y...
Read Full ReviewThank you to Mighty Leaf for this sample! Overall I haven't been as impressed with the green teas from Mighty Leaf as the black ones, but I like this one a bit more. This was a very atypical example of a kukicha / twig tea, much more full-flavored than I expected.
I was intrigued by how the leaf smells...it smells...
Organic KuKi Cha Green Kamakura from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Kukicha – Region: Kanagawa, JapanNov. 23rd, 2016
I just received a package of this Kukicha today, and immediately decided to give it a go.
Lately I've been brewing in a pseudo-gong fu style...using a lidded tasting set as my gaiwan (actually works quite well). But I recently ordered a couple of gaiwans that should be here soon.
Steeped 2 teaspoons in 4 ounces o...
It tastes a lot like their sencha overture, but a little worse. While I would describe sencha overture as tasting like fresh spinach, this tastes more like canned spinach. It's more fishy, and the taste is a bit strange. The taste is also weaker and "softer". I don't dislike it, though! It's sweet, savory, and enjoyabl...
Read Full Review#12 Shira-Ore Stem Tea With Matcha from Kurihara Tea
Style: Kukicha – Region: Fukuoka, JapanOct. 10th, 2014
The aroma of the dry leaves is so green! There are notes of cut grass, fresh spinach, and an underlying sweet nuttiness, the aroma reminds me of the smell of summer when everything is in full growth.
The first steep is delightfully mellow, not to be boring but the tea tastes pretty much exactly as it smells, no myst...
Read More Reviews of Kukicha (15) ...
↑Top Reviewers
Rank | User | # | % |
1 | Alex Zorach | 6 | 21 |
2 | Amanda | 2 | 7 |
3 | Total Amateur | 1 | 4 |
4 | Monk | 1 | 4 |
5 | teaHappiness | 1 | 4 |
Review 2 teas to get on this list!
Advertisement
↑Most-Rated Kukicha
Organic KuKi Cha Green Kamakura
Brand: | Upton Tea Imports |
Style: | Kukicha |
Region: | Kanagawa, Japan |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
#12 Shira-Ore Stem Tea With Matcha
Brand: | Kurihara Tea |
Style: | Kukicha |
Region: | Fukuoka, Japan |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |
Karigane (Gyokuro Sencha)
Brand: | Den's Tea |
Style: | Kukicha |
Region: | Shizuoka, Japan |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Leaf: | Loose |