The charm of matured tea HIKOZOU

Have you ever heard of matured-green tea?

The term "matured" is known to bring a distinct flavor to food such as wine, meat, and cheese. Did you know that there is also matured-green tea? You may find this strange as freshness is thought to be essential in producing good quality tea.
The first flush tea cultivated at the beginning of May, is matured in an ideal environment to bring out its mellow flavor.

Believe it or not, HIKOZOU which is our signature product in autumn, is actually matured in a tunnel. This tea is stored during the summer in a tunnel located in the mountains of Shizuoka Prefecture, which was never used.

Let us introduce the charm of HIKOZOU, soon to be released once again this year.

How does first flush tea change after spending the summer in a tunnel?

The lush aroma settles and becomes surprisingly rich, soft and mellow. The after taste also becomes richer, and the changes which occur during the maturing process become more apparent. Let us introduce the 3 basic points.  

• Taste
  First flush tea is known for its fresh and lush aroma and delicate flavor.
  In contrast, HIKOZOU has a rounded flavor with a rich and sweet taste.
  

• Aroma
  After maturing in the tunnel during the summer, the tea has a rich and full aroma which stimulates our sense of smell.

• Color of the tea
  The fresh vibrant color of the first flush season changes to a darker green color. As the tea matures, you can enjoy a deeper autumn like color.
  
  

Flavor loved by a well known General in the Edo period

The roots of matured-green tea goes back over 400 years to the Edo period.

The most famous General (Shogun) of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu was known to be a green tea enthusiast. In spring, he would store first flush tea deep in the mountains so that it can get through the summer. As autumn approaches, he would bring back the tea to enjoy the rich and full flavor of the matured-green tea.

Location selected by our Tea Masters for maturing tea - Aizu Tunnel

Aizu Tunnel is a tunnel located in a quiet mountainous area in Shizuoka, where Kimikura Tea is located. In this area rich in nature, there is a railway line that was planned but never used. This unfinished tunnel located along this railway line has been used as a wine cellar since 2009.

The temperature in the tunnel is 15°～18°, and humidity is 70%～85%, constant throughout the year. As no electricity is used, there is no vibration in the tunnel, making it an ideal location to store wine. How would the flavor of green tea change, if we matured it in this tunnel like wine? This inquiring mind of our Tea Masters was how this method of maturing green tea in the tunnel started.

As autumn approaches, our tunnel matured-green tea HIKOZOU is ready to be unveiled again.

HIKOZOU which has matured over the season in a calm and natural environment, has returned to the hands of our Tea Masters. Through the transition of time, HIKOZOU has now become rich in flavor and full of umami. We hope you enjoy Kimikura Tea's signature product HIKOZOU.

View HIKOZOU in Our Store