IKKYU Green Tea FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

your questions answered

DO YOU SHIP WORLDWIDE ?

Yes, we can deliver worldwide through our partnership with FeDex. Most countries have also resumed mail services and we offer the option when available. You can have a detailed look at our shipping policies here. If your country is not listed for any reason, please contact us by e-mail or form.

DO YOU offer reward points ?

Yes, absolutely, we have a loyalty program for all our registered customers. You can earn points on any purchase but also by creating your account, writing reviews and sharing referral links. For more information, please read our special page about reward points here.

What are the health benefits of green tea?

Contrary to black tea, the leaves used for making green tea are not fermented during the transformation process. As a result, there is no oxidation, and the healthy nutrients found in the leaves (vitamins, amino acids, polyphenols, minerals, etc.) are preserved. This is why green tea is a great source of support for your body and mind to relax, fight off infections, or burn body fat. Read more about the health benefits of green tea in our dedicated section.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT INSTRUCTIONS OUT THERE ON HOW TO PREPARE GREEN TEA. WHO IS RIGHT ?

Each kind of green tea (sencha, gyokuro, macha, etc.) requires a specifc way of preparation, so you should always have doubts if a website or a shop offers the same instructions for all kinds of green tea. Leaves and water quantities, water temperature, brewing time differ, and if they are not respected you will end up with something too bitter, too "burnt". At IKKYU, we strive to explain the general rules that apply to each kind of tea, as it is done in Japan, by professionals. In addition, for each tea that you will buy here, you will receive the specific instructions, as set by the producers themselves.

Is there any caffein in green tea?
Is it the same as in coffee ?

Yes, there is caffein in green tea, as it is a natural component found in tea leaves. However, the exciting and "burst" effect of caffein is counterbalanced by another component, theanine, which has calming and relaxing effect. This allows you to drink many cups of tea throughout the day and enjoy the health benefits of caffein without the "overexcitement" issues that come with drinking too much coffee. In addition, the caffeine in green tea is natural and is absorbed and metabolized differently than coffee. The caffeine in coffee occures during the roasting of the bean and is not natural. The difference is that it stays in your body a lot longer.

My green tea is very bitter… is this normal ?

Bitterness is one of the natural tastes of green tea and is directly related to the caffein found in the leaves, as well as the kind of tea cultivar. For example, shiraore contains is low in caffeine compared to all other green teas. If you find your tea too bitter to your taste, it means that the water temperature was maybe be too high, as caffein is released at higher temperatures. Alternatively, if you feel that you followed the instructions for preparing your tea but that it's still too bitter, you can freely use cooler water (for example, 60°C instead of 80°).

The grassy taste of my green tea is too strong.
Are there any green teas where it is less pronounced ?

If you are new to green tea, and begin you tea journey with drinking sencha or gyokuro, you might be surprised by their grassy tones. Why don't you try a kama-iri-cha? This type of green tea is different from sencha or gyokuro, as it is not steamed but pan-fried. It is still green tea, but its taste is closer to oolong or black tea, making it a good alternative.

What is "shincha" ?

"Shincha" means "new tea": it is tea (of the sencha variety) that comes from the first harvest of the year, in March-April. It is directly packaged and put up for immediate sale without ever going into cold storage. While first harvest green tea is available throughout the year, shincha is only available from March thru about the middle of July. Regarding "shincha" gyokuro and matcha. Note that for gyokuro and matcha leaf the normal procedure is to age the leaves of these products for a few months for optimum taste. This is why they are normally released in the fall and not spring.

I have found some very affordable Gyokuro.
Is this a good choice ?

Gyokuro is the "king of green tea": it is a rare, delicate and very high quality tea. Even in Japan, it is an expensive product. So a very affordable Gyokuro means that the quality might be highly compromised. Like wine there are many levels of green tea quality and many different prices. Basically you get what you pay for. And in the case of lower priced tea, you may be getting a lot of things you don't want.

can I rebrew my tea ? If yes, how many times ?

Yes, absolutely ! The higher the quality the more times you can brew your tea. Sencha and Gyokuro can easily be rebrewed 3 times since we serve premium Green Tea only. Some even 5 times. Rebrewing as of course an impact on the taste, and you should be able to feel that it actually balances de different components after the first brew. Keep in mind that some Gyokuro taht are dealt at 100 USD for 10 grams in Japan (yes, 10 grams, it's 10,000 USD per Kg.) can be rebrewed even 9 times.

What is the difference between Japanese and
Chinese green tea ?

Japan produces the finest green tea. There are 3-4 harvest a year in Japan and the first 2 are considered by far the best. Unfortunately over 90% of the tea sold around the world is from China, which uses tea harvested late during the year, which means lower quality.

Why is matcha so expensive ?

Like for very fine wines or other delicacies, there is a large demand for matcha but only a limited supply. Cultivating and making matcha requires a lot of time and labor - it takes up to a decade to learn how to properly make it. In addition, only the finest and youngest leaves are good enough for making matcha, which is also a guarantee of getting all the health benefits that are found in matcha. The best Matcha in Japan are sold several hundreds USD for 20g.

Should I drink green tea before going to bed?
What about pregnant women or infants ?

Green tea contains caffeine but not all kinds have the same amounts. It is recommended to choose a kind of tea with low caffeine levels (like Shira-ore), or simply use about half the amount of leaves. In Japan, in the tea farming areas, babies are given watered down green tea to drink as soon as they start eating solid foods (6-8 months).

can I drink Green tea on an empty stomach ?

Green tea rich in caffeine and catechin may be tough on an empty stomach. We recommend to drink weakly brewed teas if you feel it may upset your stomach.

what about the names of IKKYU's teas ?

Uhoh...you noticed ? Yeah, well, we wanted to have consistency about all our product lines, and we did so by giving a special paper for each region, an unique color for each tea type...and actual surnames that have the same sounds for each different producer. Eatch tea has a real Japanese surname. Maybe some of them also carry a real story, how knows ? :D Also...honestly...naming a tea "The Green Jade Dragon of the Glorious secret Mountain Above the Skies" is a bit too much don't you think ?

WANT TO KNOW MORE ?

a knowledge base at your disposal

IKKYU strives to provide you the clearest information possible with step by step instructions, downloadable files, and much more to come. If you have any unanswered question please feel free to drop a line by e-mail through our contact form our through our social networks. Our mission is to bring you as close as possible to Japan and enjoy your tea in the best way possible. Don't forget to visit the following pages :

The Tea Farmers
You will find so much information in the detailed portraits of the producers we are working with ! About themselves, their tea, their land and area.
Our Green Teas
A little confused about all the different tea types ? Don't worry, we have a detailed page explaining the particularities of all teas as well as their tasting variations. You can even download a useful PDF file that includes the brewing preparation information.
Green tea and health
Wondering about the the benefits of green tea ? Much has been said about it, and without doubt drinking green tea has a beneficial effect to your organism. The most obvious one is that you can enjoy the longer lasting alterness the combination of caffeine and theanine over the coffee shot...without the caffeine crash.
How to brew (and not burn) your tea
Making and serving tea is an art, and it takes some training and knowledge to become a tea master. That being said, you don't need to become a Tea master in order to brew you Green Tea and appreciate not only its taste but also aroma. A few steps and understanding of the most important factors will make your Green Tea a true experience. And then, by doing that daily, you will appreciate your skills naturally improve and adjust your brewing to your taste.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

your questions answered

WANT TO KNOW MORE ?

a knowledge base at your disposal

The Tea Farmers

Our Green Teas

Green tea and health

How to brew (and not burn) your tea

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FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

your questions answered

WANT TO KNOW MORE ?

a knowledge base at your disposal

The Tea Farmers

Our Green Teas

Green tea and health

How to brew (and not burn) your tea

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