{"title":"Choosing Your First HOJO Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor anyone choosing a HOJO tea for the first time, these are teas whose flavor is easy to read and that are hard to get wrong even without paying close attention to how you brew them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHOJO chooses tea by body and length of finish rather than by showy flavor. If you are used to ordinary tea, that can seem plain at first. The teas gathered here show those qualities most clearly while still being easy to drink as a first cup.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"t03","title":"Black tea Trial Set ( 7 Types x 10g )","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Seven silver foil pouches of black tea arranged in two rows\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7050.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8363\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a trial set of seven types of black tea, all grown naturally (without fertilizers or pesticides). Since all the teas in this set are pesticide-free, you can drink them with peace of mind.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A kraft gift box with a HOJO label on the lid\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7038-2.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8365\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis set is also suitable as a small gift for friends who love black tea!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Silver foil pouches with orange labels inside an open box\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7047.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8362\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Only Pesticide-Free Black Tea Selected\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The teas selected for this trial set are all naturally grown. Choosing naturally grown teas is not only for safety reasons but also because tea grown without nitrogen fertilizers takes time to grow slowly, resulting in dense cells. This leads to a tea rich in components, with a deep and lingering aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    The Quality of Chinese Black Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When people think of black tea, they might imagine Darjeeling or Ceylon tea, but the origin of black tea is China, where there are also exceptionally high-quality black teas. You cannot talk about black tea without tasting high-quality Chinese black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, there may be concerns about fakes and food safety in China. In reality, China is a country with a mix of extremely high-quality and poor-quality products.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Surprisingly, many top-class teas in China are grown without pesticides or fertilizers. Producers understand that the quality improves without fertilizers, and pests are less likely to attack the plants, thus reducing the need for pesticides. For producers, pesticides are an expense, so they avoid using them if there is no pest damage.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To encounter truly good quality tea, objective measures of quality and knowledge, and experience related to those quality factors are necessary. At HOJO, we manage everything ourselves, from purchasing directly from producers who own tea gardens to handling export from China and import into Japan. By not using intermediaries and dealing directly with producers, we accurately manage and monitor the use of pesticides and fertilizers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Contents of the Black Tea Trial Set\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eFormosa Black Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLapsang Souchong Qi Zhong\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYunnan Ancient Tree Black Tea Apricot Honey Aroma\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYunnan Kung Fu Black Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHigh Mountain Purple Black Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWild Black Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Seven silver foil pouches laid out on a wooden surface\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7053.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8364\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    Formosa Black Tea\/ Red Jade Tea\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a representative black tea of Taiwan. It is made from the TTES No. 18 variety and is grown around Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Taiwan. It is sometimes called TTES No. 18 or Sun Moon Lake Black Tea based on the variety name and place of origin. Its characteristic is a menthol flavor reminiscent of Ceylon tea's Uva.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Close-up of dark twisted dried black tea leaves on white\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b05_03-1.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8351\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dark twisted dried tea leaves on a bamboo scoop\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b05_02-2.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8352\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis black tea is made from the Shui Xian variety, following the traditional method of Lapsang Souchong (Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong). We would really like to call it Lapsang Souchong Shui Xian. However, Lapsang Souchong is by standard made from seed-grown tea in Tongmuguan, the growing area, and that is where the name Xiao Zhong comes from. Since this tea uses the Shui Xian variety, it is called Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts flavor recalls sweet potato and peach, with a hint of mango. There is also a note of dried longan, and the overall flavor is sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has none of the smoky aroma of typical Lapsang Souchong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_6532.jpg?v=1737905815\" alt=\"Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    Lapsang Souchong Qi Zhong\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Lapsang Souchong Qi Zhong is a legendary tea with a very floral and fruity aroma reminiscent of tropical fruits, honey, and peaches. Unlike ordinary black tea, which is completed by drying after fermentation, Lapsang Souchong Qi Zhong is roasted for a long time over charcoal at around 100℃ after drying, enhancing its maturity and fruity aroma. Qi Zhong is made from old trees grown from seeds at an altitude of 1200 meters, resulting in a rich aftertaste and long-lasting finish due to the high-quality raw materials.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Other teas in the same category include Lapsang Souchong Xiao Chi Gan and Tongmu Shuixian Black Tea. While all are excellent, Qi Zhong has been selected for this set.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A mound of thin black dried tea leaves on white\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b54_01-2.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8356\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    Yunnan Ancient Tree Black Tea Apricot Honey Aroma\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This black tea is made from naturally grown tea leaves from Lincang, Yunnan Province, China, at an altitude of 2100 meters. It is processed in the typical Yunnan black tea style, which involves very light withering to create a gentle, mild flavor. It has a faint honey aroma and also carries a menthol flavor similar to Uva. It is delicious both straight and with milk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Close-up of dark dried tea leaves mixed with golden tips\" height=\"433\" width=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b039_11-3.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8357\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    Yunnan Kung Fu Black Tea\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In contrast to the Yunnan Ancient Tree Black Tea Apricot Honey Aroma, which is made with almost no withering, this tea is processed with significant withering, similar to Darjeeling. The withering process creates a floral and slightly spicy aroma, resulting in a bright and elegant black tea. It is made from naturally grown, seed-grown old trees over 100 years old in Lincang, Yunnan Province, at an altitude of 2100 meters. This tea has a rich aftertaste and a deep, lingering finish that penetrates deeply into the body.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dark twisted dried black tea leaves on a white background\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b52_01-2.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8358\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    High Mountain Purple Black Tea\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In the tea gardens around 2000 meters in Lincang, Yunnan Province, there is a type of tea called purple tea. This purple tea is popular as a raw material for pu-erh tea due to its distinctive aroma, similar to perilla leaves. HOJO has custom processed this purple tea into black tea. High Mountain Purple Black Tea has a faint perilla aroma and a sweet potato-like sweetness. It has a broad flavor profile and a richness characteristic of purple tea. It is also delicious as milk tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dark thin dried tea leaves piled on a wooden tray\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8200-1.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8354\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n    Wild Black Tea\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This black tea is made from wild tea, Camellia taliensis, that grows naturally in the mountains of Lincang, Yunnan Province, China. Wild tea, as the name suggests,\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38153554231472,"sku":"t03","price":4600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7053.jpg?v=1737905891"},{"product_id":"o14","title":"Ali Shan Jin Xuan Oolong Tea","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        Floral Aroma and Soft Fresh Milk Scent\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        By gently processing the latest Jin Xuan cultivar grown in Ali Shan without roasting, we have achieved a tea with a scent reminiscent of fresh milk and flowers.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rolled green tea leaves on a white spoon\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/87A200E1-69C7-471B-A78F-F05A8F1503DB.png?v=1613390603\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    \"First Impression is Fresh Milk\"\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By gently processing the latest Jin Xuan cultivar grown in Ali Shan without roasting, we have achieved a tea with a scent reminiscent of fresh milk and flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    You might think, \"Fresh milk in tea?! I don't want such a strange scent!\" but please try it first.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once you taste it, you will immediately understand that the expression \"like fresh milk\" is used in a positive sense. The unforgettable taste has many fans even at HOJO's direct store in Kuala Lumpur (KL).\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    \"Good Balance Between Price and Quality\"\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Close-up of rolled green dried tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EA7FA793-82C7-4BDD-AFAB-389A095533A0.png?v=1613391063\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Taiwan, oolong tea harvested from an altitude of 600m or higher is generally called high mountain tea. Ali Shan tea gardens are at 1500m, which is a standard altitude for high mountain tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although teas like Lishan tea grown at 2400m are also good, they tend to be expensive. In that regard, Ali Shan tea offers a good balance between quality and price, making it a recommended high mountain tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Ali Shan Jin Xuan Oolong Tea Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A person in a cloth head cover plucking tea in a field\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F20D0849-BE77-4D83-AE09-D35DC71161F5.png?v=1613391170\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e [High Mountain Tea Harvesting Scene]\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you actually visit Ali Shan, you will realize that it is a very deep mountain composed of many peaks. Tea gardens are distributed everywhere from the foot to the vicinity of the summit of Ali Shan, and their location significantly affects the quality of the tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At HOJO, we aim to provide as clean and astringency-free tea as possible, so we source non-blended Ali Shan tea from tea gardens located around 1500m.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Furthermore, this product is made from the Jin Xuan cultivar, which has a completely different aroma compared to traditional Ali Shan tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Additionally, this product is a Qing Xiang type with no roasting, focusing on a mellower taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    About Cultivars and Harvesting\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Unlike green tea, tea leaves are harvested when they have several leaves. If harvested too early, the tea will be rich in theanine, an umami component, but its aroma will be weak.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It is important to select tea leaves that have a balanced amount of these substances. However, not any time is suitable; HOJO specifies only March-plucked tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As the harvest season progresses, the grade decreases, bitterness increases, and sweetness and mellowness decrease. This product is made from the Jin Xuan cultivar.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Side-by-side close-ups of two oolong tea leaf varieties\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/67BB8D5D-ED60-46F8-8309-6B3207B0081E.png?v=1613391470\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u0026nbsp;\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For more details about Ali Shan tea, please refer to the link below.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ali Shan Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932467228848,"sku":"o14ta","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932467261616,"sku":"o14tc","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932467294384,"sku":"o14tb","price":8700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932467327152,"sku":"o14tv","price":21800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/87A200E1-69C7-471B-A78F-F05A8F1503DB.png?v=1737905886"},{"product_id":"o09","title":"Ali Shan Cha","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        Refreshing Floral Aroma and Pleasant Aftertaste\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Ali Shan tea is a representative of Taiwanese high mountain tea with a fruity and refreshing taste. It offers a great balance of quality and price, making it a popular high mountain tea recommended by HOJO.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        HOJO's Ali Shan tea is Qing Xiang type\/ green type, which is close to green tea in taste, with a refreshing sensation reminiscent of fruits, honey and flowers. It is also characterized by a faintly sweet aftertaste.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        If you can't forget the delicious \"oolong tea\" you once had in Taiwan, please try HOJO's Ali Shan tea.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Standard of High Mountain Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Taiwan, oolong tea harvested at an altitude of over 1000 meters is called high mountain tea. Ali Shan tea gardens are located at 1500 meters, making it a standard high mountain tea. While tea like Li Shan tea grown at 2400 meters is also good, it tends to be extremely expensive. In that sense, Ali Shan tea offers a great balance of quality and price and is highly recommended.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Can Be Brewed Up to 6 Times?!\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Using 5g of tea leaves for 200cc of water, you can brew up to 6 times. When drinking at work, you can simply put the tea leaves in a mug or cup and pour hot water. When you finish drinking, just add more hot water.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Below is an introduction to Ali Shan tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ali Shan Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/alishan-tea\" aria-describedby=\"a11y-new-window-message\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932466049200,"sku":"o09ta","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932466081968,"sku":"o09tc","price":5200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932466114736,"sku":"o09tb","price":10000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932466147504,"sku":"o09tv","price":24900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_9853.jpg?v=1737905871"},{"product_id":"t02","title":"Oolong Tea Trial Set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    We have released an Oolong Tea Trial Set. We selected seven recommended Oolong teas and packaged them in 10g sets. This set is perfect for those who want to try various Oolong teas but are unsure which to choose, or for those looking for a casual gift.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Each tea is packaged in an oxygen-free environment, so it will remain fresh for over 10 years if unopened.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many people associate Oolong tea with bottled beverages, thinking of it as a bitter, brown tea. However, well-managed Oolong tea made with quality ingredients and methods has a floral and fruity flavor, making it a very delicious tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7955\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5532.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" alt=\"Oolong Tea Trial Set\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It comes packaged in a box, making it suitable as a simple gift.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7260\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2643.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" alt=\"Oolong Tea\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u0026nbsp;\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    7 Types of Tea, 10g Each\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Below is the content of the Oolong Tea Trial Set. Each of the seven types of tea is packaged in 10g portions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAli Shan Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep Fired Dong Ding Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWenshan Baozhong Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTraditional Dong Ding Oolong Tea Special\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhoenix Oolong Ya Shi Xiang No.2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnxi Rou Gui\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedium Fired Tie Guan Yin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Below are brief descriptions of each tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Ali Shan Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is one of Taiwan's representative high mountain Oolong teas. Made from spring tea harvested from gardens at an altitude of 1500-1600m, it offers a citrus and floral aroma. It is a tea that can be enjoyed even by those who usually drink Sencha.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7949\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/pho300_o09.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" alt=\"Ali Shan Tea\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u0026nbsp;\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDeep Fired Dong Ding Oolong\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDong Ding Oolong from Dong Ding Mountain (Lugu) is roasted for more than 10 hours to bring out a sweet flavor like dried fruit. It is a full-bodied tea that spreads widely in the mouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/pho300_o06.jpg?v=1737905864\" alt=\"Deep Fired Dong Ding Oolong leaves\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Wenshan Baozhong Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Among many Oolong teas, this one has the lowest level of fermentation and can be enjoyed like green tea. Its aroma is much stronger than green tea, with a sweet scent reminiscent of orchid flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-7950\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/011_02.jpg\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" sizes=\"(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" alt=\"Wenshan Baozhong Tea\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Traditional Dong Ding Oolong Tea Special\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a representative Taiwanese tea made using traditional methods with long fermentation. By carefully controlling the fermentation towards the end, the fermentation is retained within the leaves, enhancing the floral aroma. Dong Ding Mountain tea is known for its rich flavor and robust taste. As the name \"Special\" suggests, this is a limited tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-7948\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1308-2-2.jpg\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" sizes=\"(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" alt=\"Traditional Dong Ding Oolong Tea Special\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePhoenix Oolong Ya Shi Xiang No.2\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Phoenix Dancong, the high-grade tea that represents Chinese oolong, we chose Ya Shi Xiang, which is hugely popular in the growing area. Legend says that when this tea was found, its aroma was so good that the owner, afraid it would be stolen, gave it a terrible name (Ya Shi Xiang means duck droppings aroma). It has a very bright flavor of flowers, tropical fruit and peach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from tea plucked from old tea trees, and you can clearly feel its long finish and rich aftertaste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/o50_02.jpg?v=1737905496\" alt=\"Phoenix Oolong Ya Shi Xiang No.2 leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMedium Fired Tie Guan Yin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTie Guan Yin is a famous Oolong tea representing Anxi. Made from the authentic Tie Guan Yin cultivar, this tea has a long finish. The light roast gives it a toasty flavor along with an elegant orchid-like note. It goes very well with food, whether Japanese, Western or Chinese.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/o63_01.jpg\" alt=\"Medium Fired Tie Guan Yin\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAnxi Rou Gui\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRou Gui is the Chinese name for cassia, the spice. As the name suggests, this cultivar has a subtle cassia-like flavor. A heavier fermentation and a stronger roast give it a rich, toasty note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/o54.jpg\" alt=\"Anxi Rou Gui\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38184157053104,"sku":"t02","price":4800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5532.jpg?v=1737905870"},{"product_id":"o06","title":"Dong Ding Oolong ( Medium Fermentation )","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        This is one of HOJO's flagship products, sold for many years.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Harvested at an altitude of around 800 meters in Lugu, the tea is fully fermented, giving it a honey-like, fruity aroma.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        It has a full body taste structure with deep throat feel that is unexpected for Dong Ding Oolong tea. We source very high-quality raw materials, but as a flagship product, we have kept the pricing relatively low.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    About Dong Ding Oolong Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Dong Ding Oolong tea is an oolong tea made from tea leaves harvested from Dong Ding Mountain in Lugu Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. It is said that the name \"Dong Ding\" comes from the fact that the path up the mountain is very slippery, requiring climbers to use their toes to reach the summit.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    About 150 years ago, oolong tea seeds from Wuyi, Fujian Province, China, were brought to Dong Ding Mountain for cultivation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    What Defines Good Dong Ding Oolong Tea?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It has no bitterness and a strong sweetness. It can be brewed many times, making it surprisingly economical. In Taiwan, you can find Dong Ding Oolong almost everywhere.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As Dong Ding Oolong gained fame for its delicious taste, teas from other regions began to be called by the same name.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Recently, tea grown at lower altitudes is heavily roasted to give it a roasted aroma and sold as Dong Ding Oolong tea. However, genuine Dong Ding Mountain tea makes up only a small portion of the \"Dong Ding Oolong tea\" available in the market.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The unique soil of Dong Ding Mountain is reflected in the taste. A 2003 study at National Taiwan University by Yue-Ming Chen found that tea garden soil in Lugu, home of Dong Ding Mountain, holds more calcium and other alkaline minerals (exchangeable bases) than tea garden soil in lower-lying Yangmei. The tea garden soil in Lugu is rich in these alkaline minerals. We believe they are the reason for the tea's broad flavor, very bold taste and strong body. The clear difference in taste from the surrounding growing areas probably also comes from this soil.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    HOJO sources tea from gardens at an altitude of 800 meters on Dong Ding Mountain. Many customers have expressed their delight at the gentle floral aroma when brewing this tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    HOJO's Dong Ding Oolong tea is characterized by a rich sweetness and a full-bodied flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/70CF7C82-71E8-41CF-9502-915E99918C5E.png?v=1613709905\" alt=\"Dong Ding Mountain\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dong Ding Mountain\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/72FC3A92-52FD-47DB-957F-6FE67CCE8745.png?v=1613709943\" alt=\"Dong Ding Mountain in Mist\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dong Ding Mountain is mostly covered in mist in the afternoon.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/991D25DA-7100-4F1C-8000-29A8C835F0E8.png?v=1613710010\" alt=\"Tea Garden\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/BAE9D525-D87F-4894-B45A-2765A8DEE351.png?v=1613710067\" alt=\"Tea Garden\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Secret to Deliciousness is Medium Fermentation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Most of the Dong Ding Oolong tea sold in Taiwan is lightly fermented. There is a common belief that tea grown in higher altitude gardens is more expensive and tastier.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, for Dong Ding Oolong tea harvested from gardens at about 800 meters, we faced the dilemma of not being able to showcase its value. We focused on the fermentation degree to solve this issue.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By producing tea with a higher degree of fermentation, we created a tea with a rich flavor. As the fermentation degree of Dong Ding Oolong increases, its honey-like aroma becomes stronger.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Our medium-fermented Dong Ding Oolong tea offers a new level of enjoyment even for those familiar with regular oolong tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/C5770441-B393-4C8B-899F-7B7D1CCA1CD0.png?v=1613714167\" alt=\"Tea Processing\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Economic Value with Seven Brews\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When brewed in a small teapot (200-250cc), you can enjoy more than seven infusions. This means that a lightly heaped tablespoon of tea leaves can make up to a liter of tea, offering great economic value for a high-quality tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Relax with an Easy-to-Drink Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    HOJO \"Dong Ding Oolong\" has no bitterness and a soft mouthfeel, making it enjoyable even for those with a weak stomach who find strong tea hard to drink. It is perfect as a morning tea to wake up to, or as a tea to relax before bedtime, brewed in a slightly elegant tea set.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/FE9FB456-A830-41D8-9B16-02C5BB3942B8.png?v=1613714279\" alt=\"Tea Set\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Why not add the authentic \"Dong Ding Oolong\" to your tea life?\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Cultivation Cultivars and Harvesting\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    HOJO's Dong Ding Oolong tea is made from a cultivar called Qingxin Oolong. Tea made from this cultivar is known for its refreshing taste and elegant aroma.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5545EA1A-6840-4A00-8B9D-45DF02006A9B.png?v=1613709380\" alt=\"Qingxin Oolong Leaves\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As shown in the photo, the leaves are more yellow-green than blue-green and do not appear to be in perfect condition. However, these slow-growing leaves produce delicious tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    References\u003cbr\u003eChen, Y.M. (2003) 在不同海拔高度下三種茶樹品種之根圈及本體土壤物理化學特性. Master's thesis, Graduate Institute of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University (advisor: Wang, M.K.)\u003cbr\u003eChen, Y.M., Wang, M.K., Zhuang, S.Y., Chiang, P.N. (2006) Chemical and physical properties of rhizosphere and bulk soils of three tea plants cultivated in Ultisols. Geoderma. doi:10.1016\/j.geoderma.2006.04.003\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932464836784,"sku":"o06ta","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932464869552,"sku":"o06tc","price":5200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932464902320,"sku":"o06tb","price":9900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932464935088,"sku":"o06tv","price":24900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/314C2C8E-DA8B-40F1-A83F-83D7F077B920.png?v=1737905862"},{"product_id":"b52","title":"Yunnan Gong Fu Black tea","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Producing Black Tea with Outstanding Quality from Yunnan with a Floral Flavor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Yunnan, like Darjeeling, has a high elevation, so the quality of tea from general tea gardens is very similar to that of Darjeeling tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, when it comes to tea leaves harvested from old trees in natural, abandoned tea gardens that serve as raw material for high-quality raw pu-erh tea, the quality is astonishingly high.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The black tea from Yunnan, as previously mentioned, typically undergoes a short withering process and has deep fermentation, making it similar to Assam tea in nature.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This makes it a tea with a mild flavor and a very good compatibility with milk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A bowl full of fine black dried tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A0253850-6C2A-49B9-AEC2-5AE176A7E197.png?v=1614599701\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea is made using more mature tea leaves with one bud and two to three leaves for withering.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Long thin dark brown dried tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/044A6F64-D4F8-4F90-840E-04285F6AC7D4.png?v=1614599781\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Hands holding a white cup of orange-colored tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F4A742A5-BDBF-4527-9FD4-FF7B20389CF0.png?v=1614599824\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Producing Black Tea with a Rich Flavor by Innovating the Withering Method\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n   When producing Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea, we experimented with various withering methods. Initially, we considered spreading the tea leaves on bamboo baskets indoors since Yunnan lacks proper equipment. However, the results were not favorable, so we introduced withering layers and used air to efficiently wither the leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result of prolonged withering, the tea has a rich flavor that pairs well with milk, and the tea leaves turned a reddish color due to the thorough withering process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, since we used extremely high-quality first flush tea leaves, the tea has a deep richness, a long-lasting aftertaste, and a very complex flavor, making it a tea in a different class from typical black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Most Yunnan Black Tea Comes from Managed Tea Gardens in Fengqing County\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Yunnan black tea is also known as \"Dian Hong.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"Dian\" refers to Yunnan Province, and \"Hong\" refers to black tea. Therefore, \"Dian Hong\" refers to black tea from Yunnan Province. Most Yunnan black tea (Dian Hong) is produced in an area called Fengqing County in Lincang City.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you receive Yunnan black tea or Dian Hong as a gift, or if you purchase Yunnan black tea from a specialty Chinese tea store, it is safe to assume that most of it comes from Fengqing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Fengqing County is a region with a high population of Han Chinese, unlike other regions in Yunnan where ethnic minorities are the majority. In Yunnan, historically significant tea gardens with old trees are typically owned by ethnic minorities.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In contrast, many of the tea gardens owned by Han Chinese are newly developed and follow a conventional cultivation style, similar to tea gardens in Japan, Taiwan, India, and Sri Lanka, with tea plants of relatively young age.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The elevation of these tea gardens is around 1500-1600m, and while the quality is good, it is considered middle to upper grade compared to other black tea-producing regions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A forested mountainside in evening light with a small house\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/8A8879B0-EC74-49D3-8F53-6E96758CDC7D.png?v=1614599881\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea plants grow among shrubs.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A tea tree among shrubs with small white flowers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EAE77A9D-F69D-414C-8D8B-D340D442AEC8.png?v=1614597535\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A smiling man plucking tea leaves among tea trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/798751D4-CDA2-4A43-8661-6D9226C264C0.png?v=1614597560\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Producing Black Tea from Top-Quality Raw Materials Used for Raw Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To achieve high-quality raw tea leaves, we chose natural farming tea gardens at an elevation of 2100-2200m in Zhenkang County, rather than well-managed tea gardens in Fengqing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    These tea gardens are owned by the Yi ethnic minority, and all the trees are over 100 years old, semi-wild. The quality of tea leaves is higher at higher elevations, with older trees and no fertilizer.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The common factor among these three elements is slow growth. Tea leaves that grow slowly are rich in polyphenols and minerals, providing a deep aftertaste, long-lasting finish, and a richness that permeates the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    These high-quality tea leaves are usually processed into raw pu-erh tea because high-quality raw materials fetch a higher price when made into raw pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, by purchasing directly from farmers, we kept the purchase price low.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a pink hat plucking leaves from a tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/0E09299F-9023-44FB-9410-F206D8559D81.png?v=1614597840\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Mystery of Tea Creating Flavor When Attacked by Insects!\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In semi-wild tea gardens, tea leaves coexist with various plants and insects, making it inevitable for insects like leafhoppers to suck the sap from the leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, tea leaves attacked by insects produce defensive substances called terpenes to resist. Interestingly, these tea leaves develop a honey-like sweet flavor after fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932460937392,"sku":"b52ca","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g (in can)","offer_id":44932460970160,"sku":"b52cc","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (large bag\/50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932461002928,"sku":"b52cb","price":5500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [50g x 3 bags] x 4 bags)","offer_id":44932461035696,"sku":"b52cv","price":18700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2414_1.jpg?v=1737905827"},{"product_id":"b29","title":"Wild Black Tea","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Black Tea Made from Wild Tea Growing Deep in the Mountains of Yunnan Province\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wild Black Tea is a strong black tea made from wild tea growing deep in the mountains of Yunnan Province. Wild tea refers to tea growing naturally in the mountains, untouched by human hands.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It is characterized by a honey-like sweet aroma, strong body, and profound richness unique to wild tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Rich in minerals, it improves blood circulation, making you feel warm and relaxed almost instantly.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F951F0DF-1894-430D-AC8F-941ACD71D306.png?v=1614601516\" alt=\"Wild Black Tea\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Black Tea Made from Leaves Harvested from Wild Tea Trees\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/C7161E64-87F2-45EA-B72F-F70234602154.png?v=1614601610\" alt=\"Harvesting Wild Tea\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wild tea trees refer to natural tea trees growing in remote mountain areas of Yunnan Province, not old trees over hundreds or thousands of years.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n  When we first introduced Wild Black Tea around 2013, black tea made from wild tea was very rare and difficult to obtain. However, by the 2020s, black tea made from wild tea became a kind of boom, and everyone started making wild black tea. Unfortunately, many of these teas have not been well-managed, resulting in an over-fermented, stuffy smell, or lacking top notes, leading to unsatisfactory quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5358359D-10CF-42F6-BDDA-D4F56455C6AD.png?v=1614601694\" alt=\"Wild Black Tea Infusion\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Well-made Wild Black Tea should have a very complex aroma and a strong aftertaste with profound richness unique to wild tea. Depending on the water used to brew the tea, the aroma changes significantly. With the right water, it has a honey fragrance similar to Oriental Beauty tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E87C907B-A16B-4D88-8A90-D3E58D1F3950.png?v=1614601755\" alt=\"Wild Black Tea Leaves\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    What is Wild Tea?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Our wild tea is harvested from the  mountain in Lincang, Yunnan Province. Wild tea refers to tea growing naturally in the mountains without any human intervention.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Almost every store or site specializing in Chinese pu-erh tea has \"wild tea,\" but I would say that 90% of them are not wild tea but tea harvested from old tea trees cultivated by ethnic minorities near their village or in their tea garden.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    True wild tea should grow in the mountains without any human care.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A man in an old cultivated tea tree beside tall mossy wild tea trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d27e_02_1719317248.jpg?v=1719317256\" id=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d27e_02_1719317248.jpg?v=1719317256\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Deliciousness of Wild Vegetables\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In spring, Japanese people often eat wild vegetables, which are very tasty. Cultivated vegetables taste completely different from those grown in the mountains even those they are replanted.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The sweetness is particularly notable. Wild tea is very sweet, like wild vegetables harvested from the mountains, leaving a sweet aftertaste in the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    I have never tasted such a mellow and sweet tea in my life. Wild Black Tea is one of the strongest teas sold by HOJO, making you feel tea intoxication immediately after drinking.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It warms your body instantly, making you feel relaxed right away.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5EF94331-3B6B-41C0-8102-A0DA748D3313.png?v=1614601850\" alt=\"Wild Tea Aroma\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Grape-Like Aroma\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While many wild teas are bitter and cater to enthusiasts, Wild Black Tea is an exception.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Like wild vegetables that vary in bitterness, wild tea flavors vary by tree. The Ai Lao Shan wild tea sold last year was slightly bitter.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In contrast, Wild Black Tea has no bitterness. It has a strong woody aroma, and after drinking, a faint aroma of wild grapes or dried apricots lingers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Additionally, this tea has a smoky aroma. Interestingly, the smoky aroma present before drinking disappears in the mouth.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    I carefully selected teas from nearly 20 different wild tea regions to find non-bitter teas.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Tea Loved by Children\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My children also love this tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Good tea is rich in iron, similar in nature to human body fluids and breast milk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although the aroma doesn't seem suitable for children, when brewed, they often say, \"It has a strong flavor and is delicious.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    They repeatedly ask for refills, and by the time they finish drinking, their faces are flushed and their bodies are very warm.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Rich in iron, it is said to be good for modern people who are often iron-deficient.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u0026nbsp;\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    How is Wild Tea Different from Regular Tea?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wild tea grows amidst fierce competition with other plants. In the dim forest, tea leaves strive to reach sunlight.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result, the tea tree only has leaves at the top where it receives sunlight. Despite the tree's size, the few leaves contain a high concentration of minerals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Without pruning or fertilizers, the wild tea tree grows very slowly, resulting in small, dense cells that produce rich flavors like freshly harvested wild vegetables.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Rich in iron, it is also beneficial for those who need iron. Wild tea leaves are characteristically brownish, even when fresh.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Old tea trees on a hillside and a hand holding young leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d27e_01_1719317173.jpg?v=1719317180\" id=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d27e_01_1719317173.jpg?v=1719317180\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The above photo shows tea trees hundreds of years old. High-quality raw pu-erh tea is made from such old trees.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, these old trees are not wild tea. They are old and high-quality tea leaves, but they are classified as \"cultivated tea.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Wild tea trees in a forest, with close-ups of bark and a shoot\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d22e_02_1719317301.jpg?v=1719317303\" id=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/ly_d22e_02_1719317301.jpg?v=1719317303\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a wild tea tree growing deep in the mountains, a few hours' walk from the nearest village.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wild tea grows at altitudes around 2000m and above, with trees ranging from young to over 1000 years old. The buds stretch upwards, seeking sunlight.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Video of Wild Tea Exploration\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This video shows my wild tea exploration, giving you a better understanding of wild tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k6WRvgJl80g\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"20g (small bag)","offer_id":44932460806320,"sku":"b29ca","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g (in can)","offer_id":44932460839088,"sku":"b29cc","price":3600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (large bag\/50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932460871856,"sku":"b29cb","price":10400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [50g x 3 bags] x 4 bags)","offer_id":44932460904624,"sku":"b29cv","price":34200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/b29_06.jpg?v=1737905825"},{"product_id":"o103","title":"Phoenix Oolong Mi Lan Xiang 2025 No.2","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    This product is a Mi Lan Xiang (蜜蘭香) finished with a \"3-time fire\" heavy roasting method, which is favored among Chaozhou locals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align:center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dark, twisted tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/o103_05.jpg?v=1737905810\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The \"3-time fire\" (三次火) method refers to a finishing process where the tea is roasted over charcoal three times, with each roasting spaced months apart. This method prevents uneven moisture distribution between the tea leaves' core and surface. Typically, the first roast happens right after production, the second in autumn, and the third in the following year. Thus, this product, while from the 2021 harvest, underwent its third charcoal roast in 2022.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Originally, due to a lack of proper storage techniques in China, Phoenix Town (鳳凰鎮) preserved its tea's freshness through multiple rounds of charcoal roasting. Consequently, Chaozhou locals have been accustomed to deeply roasted Phoenix Dan Cong teas like \"3-time fire\" and \"4-time fire\" since childhood, which is why heavily roasted Phoenix Dan Cong remains popular in Chaozhou.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align:center;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of amber tea seen from above\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/o103_06.jpg?v=1737905810\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Through repeated roasting, the tea undergoes maturation, deepening its liquor color into a rich orange hue while developing a robust fruit flavor reminiscent of raspberry and lychee.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Phoenix Dan Cong, there are two primary roasting styles: light charcoal roasting for a floral flavor and repeated roasting for a more intense and matured fragrance. Both styles are highly appreciated by tea enthusiasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Our previous heavily roasted Phoenix Dan Cong Mi Lan Xiang is now labeled as No.1. No.1 was finished with a \"2-time fire\" method, resulting in a fresher flavor compared to this \"3-time fire\" version.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hojo-phoenix-common\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe frequently visit Fenghuang Town in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, to source high-quality Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong tea directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_7967.jpg\" alt=\"An old Phoenix Dan Cong tree on Wu Dong Shan and me, Akira Hojo\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn old Phoenix Dan Cong tree on Wu Dong Shan and me, Akira Hojo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_7986.jpg\" alt=\"Tea trees growing on the steep, rocky slopes of Wu Dong Shan\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTea trees growing on the steep, rocky slopes of Wu Dong Shan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\na:hover {\n    background-color: #333; \/* Invert background color on hover *\/\n    color: #f0f0e0; \/* Invert text color on hover *\/\n    box-shadow: 0 12px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); \/* Add depth with a stronger shadow *\/\n    transform: translateY(-5px); \/* Slightly lift on hover *\/\n    text-decoration: none;\n}\n\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"15g (small bag)","offer_id":44932459495600,"sku":"o103ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"40g (in can)","offer_id":44932459528368,"sku":"o103cc","price":5000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g (large bag\/40g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932459561136,"sku":"o103cb","price":14600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [40g x 3 bags] x 5 bags)","offer_id":44932459593904,"sku":"o103cv","price":59600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/o103_05.jpg?v=1737905810"},{"product_id":"t01","title":"7 types of tea trial set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    Each category includes a selection of 7 recommended teas, packaged in 10g portions. This set is ideal for those unsure of which tea to choose or looking for a casual gift. Each tea is vacuum-sealed, ensuring it stays fresh for years if unopened.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Foil pouches of tea packed in an open kraft box\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2650-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7257\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The teas are packaged in a box, making them suitable for simple gift-giving.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a kraft box with a HOJO label\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2643.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7260\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2658_86f0597e-008a-483a-99e8-4b1dfef0f652.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    7 Types of Tea, 10g Each\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The sample set includes the following 7 types of tea, each packaged in 10g portions:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhite Tea: Ancient White Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlack Tea: Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOolong Tea: Dong Ding Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen Tea: Tsukigase Zairai Sencha\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJasmine Tea: Snow Jasmine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRipe Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhite Tea: Ancient White Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis white tea is made from naturally grown tea harvested at around 2000m in Yunnan Province. The trees are grown without pesticides or fertilizers and grow almost like wild trees. It has a clear, floral flavor and a soft taste that seems to soak into the body. White tea is especially popular among women. Bai Mu Dan is also very good cold-brewed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8415.jpg?v=1737905528\" alt=\"Ancient White Tea leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlack Tea: Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYunnan Ancient Black Tea Xing Mi Xiang is made with almost no withering. This tea, in contrast, is withered thoroughly, as Darjeeling is, before it is processed into black tea. The withering gives it a bright, slightly spicy flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from seed-grown, naturally cultivated tea at 2100m in Lincang, Yunnan Province, plucked from old trees more than 100 years old. The aftertaste is very rich, with a deep finish that seems to reach far into the body. It also goes well with milk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2414_1.jpg?v=1737905827\" alt=\"Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Oolong Tea: Dong Ding Oolong\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    A representative oolong tea from Taiwan. Extended fermentation enhances its floral and honey-like flavor. Harvested from the authentic Dong Ding Mountain, it offers a full-bodied taste. The flavor is very good, with a refreshing green tea-like drinking experience.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tightly rolled dark green tea leaves\" height=\"200\" width=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/o06_01.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7242\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGreen Tea: Tsukigase Zairai Sencha\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lightly steamed sencha from Tsukigase in Nara, grown without pesticides or fertilizers. Because no fertilizer is used, it is rich in polyphenols and has a floral flavor that recalls Taiwanese oolong. It is a very interesting tea that changes your image of Japanese tea in a good way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/5DD8B62E-8E6B-489E-B521-20258143C2D1.png?v=1737905771\" alt=\"Tsukigase Zairai Sencha leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eJasmine Tea: Snow Jasmine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA jasmine tea based on green tea, made from the first spring flush plucked in a naturally cultivated garden in Sichuan Province. The jasmine aroma is very strong and vivid, as if the flowers were right in front of you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4734-1.jpg?v=1737905681\" alt=\"Snow Jasmine leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRaw Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Pu-erh tea comes in both raw and ripe varieties. To help you understand their characteristics, we have selected recommended teas from each type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWu Liang Shan Gushu Raw Pu-erh is made from tea grown without pesticides or fertilizers. It has aged to a good degree and developed a sweet flavor like sugarcane, which makes it very easy to drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/d47_05.jpg?v=1737905703\" alt=\"Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRipe Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has no unpleasant smell. It shows a sweet, fruity flavor that recalls dried jujube, with a long finish that seems to soak into the body. Surprisingly, it also goes well with milk, and we recommend it as a milk tea too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/d107_01.jpg?v=1737905735\" alt=\"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39316671922352,"sku":"t01","price":3600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2654-1.jpg?v=1737905783"},{"product_id":"g25","title":"Tsukigase Zairai Sencha","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase, located at the border of Nara, Kyoto, and Mie prefectures, is a region with a rich history and unique geography. Once the bottom of ancient Lake Biwa, known as the Paleo-Biwa Formation, the land rose over time to form its present geographical features. This historical background contributes to the area's rich red clay soil, which is essential to the high quality of Tsukigase tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Clear Floral Flavor That is Unusual for Sencha\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase Zairai does not have the typical Japanese green tea flavor. Most Japanese green teas have a sweet flavor that comes from the large amount of amino acids inside the tea leaf. Amino acids are produced when nitrogen-based fertilizer is applied to the tea tree. The more nitrogen-based fertilizer applied, the faster the tea grows and the more amino acids accumulate. This amino acid is called theanine. When tea is baked during the finishing process called Shiage, the amino acids react with sugar and form the typical flavor through the Maillard reaction—the same mechanism that creates the aroma of pancakes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A sloping tea field in evening light with people among the rows\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/2011112320100478b_480x480.jpg?v=1591980227\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Without nitrogen-based fertilizer, tea grows very slowly. The tea then produces more polyphenols and accumulates more minerals inside the leaf. Tsukigase Zairai is grown without any fertilizer, making it rich in minerals and polyphenols. This type of tea has a very refreshing, flowery flavor because it contains very little amino acid. Brewed with a short infusion, the taste is similar to Taiwanese oolong tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tsukigase is Rich in Red Soil\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase Zairai Sencha is produced in Tsukigase village in Nara prefecture. Due to a government consolidation policy, this village was merged into Nara city. Tsukigase is developed along the Nabari River, which flows through Kyoto and eventually reaches Osaka. The river's name changes from Nabari River to Kizu River and then to Yodo River as it passes through different regions. Historically, the river was used for logistics, and all tea gardens were developed along its banks, with the downstream city serving as the main market. Tea produced along this river, including Tsukigase Zairai Sencha, was historically sold as Uji Sencha. Following regulatory changes by Japan's health ministry, producers stopped using that designation, and tea from Nara is now called Yamato Cha. Yamato is Nara's ancient name, and it was once the oldest capital city of Japan.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two men beside tea bushes, one carrying a camera\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/20111123201003f45_480x480.jpg?v=1591980240\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tsukigase Used to Be the Bottom of Lake Biwa\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase is situated at the border of 3 prefectures: Nara, Kyoto, and Mie. At one time, Lake Biwa was much larger than it is today, and Tsukigase lay at the bottom of this lake. As time passed, the land rose and formed the present geographical features, which is why Tsukigase is so rich in red clay. In fact, Tsukigase is very close to Iga and Shigaraki, both historically known for producing very fine red clay—it takes only a few minutes to reach Iga from Tsukigase. The high quality of Tsukigase tea is mainly due to this red clay.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A misty valley with a river and a suspension bridge\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/201111232010048be_480x480.jpg?v=1591980195\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, in Tsukigase, fine soil only exists in certain areas due to the specific geographical structure. The land may once have been flat with a top layer rich in red clay, but the gradual encroachment of the Nabari River formed a river terrace. As a result, the fine red soil exists only in the upper layer. The intermediate layer consists of red soil mixed with sand, while the bottom layer is pure white sand. We therefore look only for tea from gardens situated at the highest level. Tea from the lower layers tastes flat and has a very light flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The following diagram shows the distribution of soil layers on the river terrace.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Diagram of soil layers before and after river erosion, with tea garden positions\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/tsukigase01e.gif\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Zairai Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase Zairai Sencha is produced from Zairai cultivars. In Japanese, Zairai means \"native to Japan,\" though tea itself is not a native Japanese plant—the term refers to seed-grown tea. Zairai tea has very long roots that effectively absorb minerals. When grown under identical conditions, Zairai consistently produces higher quality than modern cultivars such as Yabukita. Because Zairai is planted from seed and undergoes complex natural hybridization, there are various genetic traits among the plants. On close inspection, each tree differs in leaf shape, size, and color.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea bush canopy covered in bright green new shoots\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/IMG_6934_480x480.jpg?v=1591980488\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Sustainable Tea Garden\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Our Tsukigase Zairai Sencha is produced through natural farming practices. Natural farming is a more stringent approach than organic production. Farmers do not use any nitrogen fertilizer, even organic forms. They use only grasses or leaves collected from the mountains to manage the growth rate of the tea. The tea grows almost entirely in natural conditions. If nitrogen-based fertilizer such as animal manure is applied, the tea grows faster, which negatively affects its quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A man in gloves plucking something from a tea bush\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/g25_03.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Removing insects by hand\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Bundles of dried grass stacked in a field\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/g25_04.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Wild grass is applied after fermentation.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Slow Growing\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Usually, tea trees are trimmed in autumn. The common practice in Japan is to cut the branches low, leaving thick branches like straw. These thick branches effectively transfer nutrients from the ground, causing tea leaves to grow faster and increasing yield. As a result, the aftertaste becomes shallow and the tea accumulates a large amount of amino acids from the excessive nutrient supply. This is why most Japanese teas have a flat aftertaste. In Japan, it is commonly said that good tea contains more amino acids—but in fact, high-quality tea should contain more minerals and polyphenols and fewer amino acids.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase tea is trimmed only at the tips, to a very minor extent. With this practice, the branches become very thin—no thicker than a toothpick—and very consistent in size, producing small, evenly sized leaves with a uniform moisture content. Leaves managed this way look yellowish-green and feel firm to the touch. According to the farmer, this method makes the tea leaves less efficient at absorbing nutrients, causing them to grow very slowly and allowing substances to accumulate in the leaves. This is one of the primary reasons Tsukigase tea is of such high quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932457496752,"sku":"g25ja","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932457529520,"sku":"g25jc","price":2700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932457562288,"sku":"g25jb","price":5100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932457595056,"sku":"g25jv","price":13000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/5DD8B62E-8E6B-489E-B521-20258143C2D1.png?v=1737905771"},{"product_id":"g34","title":"Uji Hojicha Jubuzan","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: 0.9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        Umami Does Not Equal Deliciousness\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        The current mainstream in Japanese tea focuses on high umami content. Umami is primarily composed of an amino acid called theanine, but umami does not equal deliciousness. Umami refers to flavors represented by monosodium glutamate, like those found in broth.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        To increase the amino acid content in tea leaves, nitrogen fertilizer is necessary. While tea trees in nitrogen-fertilized gardens grow vigorously, they also contain fewer polyphenols and minerals, such as catechins.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Additionally, tea with high theanine content has a weaker depth of flavor, resulting in a lighter taste.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        Our Japanese Tea Focuses on Rich Flavor and Aftertaste\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        We select tea with a rich flavor, choosing teas high in catechins and minerals rather than theanine. Tea rich in minerals is typically grown naturally, with little to no fertilizers.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Enjoy the sweet aftertaste that lingers in your throat when you drink our tea.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Producing Hoji Tea with Deep, Lingering Aftertaste Comparable to Premium Teas Worldwide\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Uji Hojicha Jubuzan is a hoji tea made from the first flush of naturally cultivated tea in Jubuzan, a mountain in Wazuka Town, Kyoto Prefecture.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wazuka Town, along with Ujitawara Town, Minamiyamashiro Village, Kasagi Town, Tsukigase, and Asamiya, has long been known as a producer of high-quality Uji tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have produced hoji tea with a rich flavor and a long-lasting aftertaste. The tea is custom roasted from the first flush of naturally cultivated tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This hoji tea is of a quality that even those accustomed to high-end Chinese teas will appreciate. The deep richness and sweet aftertaste that lingers in your throat redefine the standards of hoji tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Unusual Quality, That is Defined by The Long Lasting Aftertaste\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We wanted to create a high-quality hoji that you've never tasted before.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High-quality tea has depth of flavor, making the tea feel soft and the sweet aftertaste linger. The most important factor in achieving this flavor is the selection of raw materials. We chose Uji Sencha Jubuzan, known for its deep throat feel and excellent raw material quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By growing the tea slowly and without any fertilizer, the leaves contain more polyphenols and iron. The difference in fragrance and taste is evident even to those not familiar with tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    We Paid Attention to the Roasting Process\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The raw sencha was roasted using a sand-roasting method. Sand has a large surface area, allowing heat to be evenly transferred to the tea leaves, resulting in uniform roasting.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    A Sweet, Toasted Flavor Similar to High-Quality Oolong Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many people have tasted this tea, and most of them said, \"This is not hoji tea.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It truly doesn't taste like hoji tea. It has a sweet flavor like high-quality oolong tea, an unimaginable smoothness, deep throat feel, and a lasting sweet aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The brewed tea has an amber color and tastes and smells more like high-quality oolong tea than hoji tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Thin stem-like tea leaves in a white gaiwan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/513CB004-8453-4DA7-BD10-39AAA2EA9680.png?v=1615373015\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The tea has a glossy amber color, and its potential can be sensed the moment you smell it.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Brewed tea leaves in a white gaiwan\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/0CFFA927-0A56-441A-BD4A-BCBC6AD8839A.png?v=1615373054\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Touch the brewed tea leaves. They are surprisingly soft and elastic, contrary to their appearance.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Experience the Quality Difference Through Water Quality\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The higher the quality of tea, the more iron it contains, which alters the nature of the water itself.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The iron in the tea affects the water quality, making it very soft and viscous.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Uji Hojicha Jubuzan dramatically changes the water's nature. Just a small sip gives a pleasant tea high.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A glass pitcher filled with yellow tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F363AA85-EB7E-4F15-A8B9-7FF56923E9F8.png?v=1615373119\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It has a color more like oolong tea than hoji tea.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two small white cups of pale yellow tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E614BD32-7E51-4A2E-B439-0131659AF0A0.png?v=1615373135\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Because of its high quality, it is also suitable to drink from small tea cups.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product uses Uji Sencha Jubuzan as the raw material. Unlike hoji tea made from stems or coarse tea, the raw material itself is costly.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Additionally, when making hoji tea, the extra roasting process results in weight loss, which is reflected in the cost, making it slightly more expensive than sencha.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Below is an explanation of the raw material used, Uji Sencha Jubuzan.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    We Focused on Natural Cultivation Without Fertilizers to Achieve Deep Throat Feel and Sweet Aftertaste\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Jubuzan is a 682-meter-high mountain located between Ujitawara Town and Wazuka Town. This area used to be the bottom of Lake Biwa, which is why it contains rich clayey red soil.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When sourcing this tea, we selected naturally cultivated tea leaves from Jubuzan's ideal environment. Natural cultivation means growing the tea without fertilizers or pesticides, allowing it to grow robustly and naturally over time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Modern agriculture often relies on fertilizers for tea production.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, tea grown with excessive fertilizer grows excessively, accumulating large amounts of amino acids but lacking polyphenols and minerals essential for flavor and aftertaste, resulting in bland tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In general, Japanese tea relies heavily on amino acids, leading to a very light taste. Excessive roasting is used to enhance the tea's character, but good tea should be impressive even in its raw state.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The phrase \"tea rich in theanine\" often cited in books implies tea heavily fertilized with nitrogen, which, in my definition, means less tasty tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The difference is clear when comparing fresh leaves from various tea gardens. When planning this year's new product, we focused extensively on selecting the best raw materials before discussing the processing methods.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By sourcing excellent raw materials, we achieved delicious tea without the heavy roasting typically seen in the Japanese tea industry.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Preserving the Natural Flavor by Not Removing Stems\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Japanese tea, stems are usually removed because they are yellow and noticeable.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Modern tea production always removes stems to achieve visually appealing green leaves. However, we intentionally leave the stems. Through various experiments, we found that stems play a crucial role. Stems contain abundant minerals and have a sweet flavor and body.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Those familiar with stem tea, like Karigane, know that stem tea is very sweet!\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We conducted a comparison by hand-removing stems with tweezers from some tea and leaving the stems in others.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The results were surprising; the tea with stems had a much better flavor and body. Everyone who tasted it agreed that the tea with stems was more delicious.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Removing the stems made the flavor sharper and significantly weakened the sweet, floral scent and body.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Historically, it was considered good luck to have a tea stem standing upright in your cup, known as \"chabashira\" in Japanese. Nowadays, stems are not included in tea, so this rarely occurs. In the past, people appreciated the sweetness of stems and habitually drank tea with them.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Today, aesthetics often take precedence over flavor and aroma, leading to the removal of stems.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Sourcing Tea from Completely Natural Cultivation Gardens to Provide Sweet, Lingering Aftertaste\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The moment you swallow this tea, you will be amazed at how different it feels from ordinary tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea smoothly flows down your throat, leaving a pleasant sweetness from the root of your tongue to the back of your throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a characteristic of high-quality tea. Although this product would command a high price overseas, the unique standards of Japanese quality allowed us to offer it at a realistic price.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Simply put, the definition of good tea is \"rich flavor.\" Richness refers to the deep, satisfying taste felt in the back of your throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Using more tea leaves for cheaper tea increases bitterness but does not enhance the richness. Uji Sencha Jubuzan meets this definition of richness. Even with a small amount of tea leaves, it makes the water taste rich, providing deep satisfaction. It's similar to how high-quality kombu requires only a light touch in water to impart its flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Unlike typical Japanese tea with a strong amino acid flavor, this tea has a refreshing, clean scent, similar to oolong tea. It is perfect for those who enjoy oolong tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Blind Spot of Organic Cultivation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    There is a common belief that organic cultivation equals healthy and delicious. While organic cultivation is safe from a pesticide perspective, it does not necessarily mean the tea is delicious or healthy.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To produce delicious vegetables, fruits, and tea, it is essential to grow the plants slowly to develop high cell density leaves, rich in polyphenols and minerals, resulting in a flavorful, rich sweetness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    I have tasted many organically grown teas, but many of them were indistinguishable from regular tea in terms of quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This largely depends on the fertilizers used and the cultivation methods. Even organic fertilizers like compost act similarly to chemical fertilizers like nitrates.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Nitrogen stimulates vigorous growth, causing large cell growth, which results in fewer polyphenols and minerals, producing bland tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My family grows apples, and when nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the leaves turn deep green and the apples grow larger. However, the apples taste bland and watery.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Regardless of organic or inorganic, growing tea naturally — like wild vegetables, slowly and robustly — is crucial for producing high-quality tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea grown under harsh conditions over time reflects its struggle in its quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A tea plant growing beside a mound of compost\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F5BD0218-AA80-494C-B5BC-DB0EF6FF4EED.png?v=1615373343\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea tree beside animal manure. The leaves are large and deep green, unlike typical tea trees. Tea made from such leaves will have a bland taste and little throat feel.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Deep Pruning\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The more deeply a tea tree is pruned, the more vigorously it grows the following year.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"Vigorous growth\" means larger cells with fewer minerals, resulting in lower-quality tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Deep pruning is common in high-production areas like Shizuoka and Kagoshima. By providing nitrogen and deep pruning, growth is accelerated, leaf size increases, and production volume rises.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High quality typically means lower production and rarity. It's unrealistic to expect both high quality and high production.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As with highland vegetables or delicious apples, slow growth results in high-density cells, producing flavorful food.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This applies not only to vegetables but also to fish. Farmed fish grown quickly and naturally grown fish grown slowly have similar differences.\n\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea plants growing among ferns and other greenery\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/36BD8751-6769-4876-A0A0-F4FCD9879400.png?v=1615373542\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Pruned tea leaves produce vigorous young branches and large green leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The More You Drink, the Sleepier You Get\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is not an issue with Uji Sencha Jubuzan. On the contrary, it is perfect for those seeking deep sleep.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High-mineral tea, which is considered \"premium tea\" in overseas markets, warms the body and makes you sleepy.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While tea contains caffeine, known to prevent sleep if consumed excessively, high-quality tea's increased mineral content improves circulation, leading to sleepiness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Uji Sencha Jubuzan contains abundant minerals, sometimes causing a light tea high, similar to the relaxation felt after drinking premium brandy, whiskey, or wine.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is not a psychological effect; continued drinking will make your face flush and feel relaxed and mellow.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although Japanese law prohibits specifying health benefits, foods that improve circulation also aid in relaxation, digestion, and sleep.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Experience it for yourself by drinking it.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    About Jubuzan\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Uji Hojicha Jubuzan is grown in Jubuzan, a mountain in Wazuka Town, Kyoto Prefecture.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wazuka Town, along with Ujitawara Town, Minamiyamashiro Village, Kasagi Town, Tsukigase, and Asamiya, has long been known as a producer of high-quality Uji tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The area, once the bottom of Lake Biwa, was uplifted, and subsequent erosion by the Nabari River created unique river terraces characteristic of Tsukigase.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The former lakebed contains extremely high-quality, fine-grained red soil.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, not all areas along the Nabari River have red soil; it is found only in tea gardens located at the top of mountains, untouched by erosion.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Conversely, areas shaped by river erosion contain more sand, producing ordinary Japanese tea with little throat feel.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hillside cut showing layers of soil beside a tea field\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A6EBB7B9-616E-43ED-ABD4-42862ADBB459.png?v=1615373600\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Surroundings of Jubuzan: This area is covered with rich clayey red soil abundant in iron.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rows of tea plants on a hillside with forested mountains behind\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/FF8EF98F-AA64-4780-8851-1F22184250C1.png?v=1615373624\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Uji tea region: The unique environment of mountains and valleys creates significant temperature differences between day and night, producing high-quality tea.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The following diagram explains why red soil layers are found only at high altitudes. Erosion by the river has washed away the soil from the mountains, leaving the red soil layers in limited areas.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Diagram of soil layers before and after river erosion, with tea garden positions\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/68B5DBE9-4495-411F-A5AA-3CECF68318B7.png?v=1615373695\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Made from Rare Native Varieties of Sencha\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Uji Sencha Jubuzan is made from Zairai tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Zairai are often thought of as indigenous or original species native to Japan, but they are grown from seeds, resulting in diverse shapes, sizes, colors, aromas, and flavors within the same tea garden.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many high-quality teas in China are made from native varieties, often referred to as mixed varieties. Famous teas like Longjing are made from mixed varieties for high-quality products.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The following video introduces the tea-making of Tsukigase.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uOkkyHNm3sg\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\n\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932456579248,"sku":"g34ja","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in a bag)","offer_id":44932456612016,"sku":"g34jc","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932456644784,"sku":"g34jb","price":5400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (100g x 6 bags)","offer_id":44932456677552,"sku":"g34jv","price":14000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/513CB004-8453-4DA7-BD10-39AAA2EA9680.png?v=1737905762"},{"product_id":"d110","title":"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea Mini Tuo Cha 2019","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Our Pu-erh Ripe Tea with Strong Aftertaste and Rich Flavor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is a ripe Pu-erh tea made from spring tea harvested from trees hundreds of years old growing deep in the mountains. It is a tea with a very well-balanced flavor, taste, and depth of aftertaste, allowing you to fully enjoy the richness of its flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The 2019 harvest has a strong flavor reminiscent of dried jujube, with a rich, long aftertaste and deep throat sensation. It dispels the musty image sometimes associated with ripe tea, making it enjoyable for both first-time Pu-erh drinkers and connoisseurs. Enjoy the mature, melting mouthfeel and the sensation of the tea flowing smoothly down your throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product (Mini Tuo Cha type) is designed for convenience, processed into small shapes resembling chocolate, allowing you to brew tea using the whole piece.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is available in 2 types: Mini Tuo Cha and cake. This product is the Mini Tuo Cha type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although both types use raw material from Wu Liang Shan, the specific material used differs slightly. While sold under the same name, their flavor and texture are not identical. If you enjoy 1 type, we encourage you to try the other as well.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF.png?v=1615636494\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mini Tuo Cha\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A round tea cake on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9E68EC48-C67F-472B-B4AB-7060A4568C81.png?v=1615636527\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cake type\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is well-received by regular Pu-erh drinkers and can be enjoyed equally by beginners and connoisseurs.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The flavor is reminiscent of dried fruits, and the taste is mellow, smooth, and full-bodied.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In addition to the pleasant drinking experience, Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea has a deep aftertaste that spreads through the back of the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The \"character\" of tea is determined by its flavor and drinking experience, but the \"quality\" of tea—which encompasses a three-dimensional, clean taste and flavor, and the richness you feel when drinking—is defined by the depth of its taste and flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Diagram of body (spread in the mouth) and aftertaste (what lingers after swallowing)\" width=\"630\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/taste-body-aftertaste-en2.webp?v=1790840300\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Production of Pu-erh Tea in Yunnan Province\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"In Yunnan Province, you can find Pu-erh tea almost everywhere.\" In ethnic minority villages, each household produces Pu-erh tea, and even small villages have hundreds of varieties.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Across all of Yunnan Province, there are thousands or even tens of thousands of types of Pu-erh tea, so in that sense, finding a Pu-erh tea to buy is easy for anyone.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, finding Pu-erh tea with a deep aftertaste—as rich and mellow as high-quality chocolate—is extremely rare.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Layers of hazy mountain ranges\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/62FC9607-A456-4C95-89C6-DC8D7AD5820D.png?v=1615636628\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The mountains of Wu Liang Shan\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea bushes growing on a slope among trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EEBF8226-463D-4790-AA39-81B044E2B6CE.png?v=1615636661\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tea growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Difference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is made from tea trees over 100 years old, planted in the mountains rather than cultivated gardens, making the tea semi-wild.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ethnic minorities harvest the tea 1–2 times a year as part of their livelihood. Tea plucking involves climbing the trees and selecting leaves by hand—a genuinely laborious process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To the ethnic minorities of Wu Liang Shan, the tea trees in the surrounding mountains are like wild vegetables, growing among wild trees in the forest.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Mountain tea contains more minerals than garden-grown tea, and old trees growing slowly with deep root systems yield leaves that are especially rich in minerals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    These abundant minerals give the tea a richer, fuller taste. One of the main minerals in Pu-erh tea is iron, which plays a key role in blood production and is especially beneficial for those prone to anemia.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman plucking tea leaves high in a tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/6DAD9A31-6CA0-4247-9A11-0167018A9435.png?v=1615636732\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A worker plucking leaves high in an old tea tree — harvesting from these ancient trees is a genuinely demanding task.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"An old tea tree spreading its branches beneath tall trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D261671E-A5C8-4B98-B08E-8B4A72DADB92.png?v=1615636748\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Old tea trees growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Various Shapes of Ripe Pu-erh Tea Depending on Usage\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh tea is shaped into various forms such as rounds and blocks, depending on its intended use. Before pressing, Pu-erh tea exists as loose leaves called mao cha.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once fermentation is complete, the leaves look similar to black tea. We purchase the tea in this state and have it pressed into the desired shape.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Loose dark brown tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/15E2616E-276C-4040-966F-AE0955E413DE.png?v=1615636815\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ripe Pu-erh mao cha before pressing\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Processed into Small Shapes for Convenience\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is designed for convenience, pressed into small pieces resembling chocolate.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Each piece weighs 6–8 g, so use the whole piece when brewing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a wrapped tea ball and an unwrapped one\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/89B12BD4-96BA-42EC-868B-922D024530AE.png?v=1615636867\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The small size makes it convenient for sharing with friends!\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is Very Economical\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF_453bff26-b9e4-438e-b917-2dc88ad7ce64.png?v=1615636922\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is very economical — just 5 g of leaves can yield 2 liters of brewed tea across multiple infusions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you do not finish the tea in one session, you can continue brewing within the same day. For example, it is perfectly fine to resume brewing the next morning from leaves used the previous evening.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of dark reddish-brown tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F914142E-0B51-4F98-BC96-D5FEAF21B7AB.png?v=1615636942\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Enjoying strong tea in small sips is another rewarding way to savor Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932454645936,"sku":"d110ca","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932454678704,"sku":"d110cc","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932454711472,"sku":"d110cb","price":4200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932454744240,"sku":"d110cv","price":10900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF.png?v=1737905737"},{"product_id":"w03","title":"Ancient Bai Mu Dan (Gushu Bai Mu Dan )","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n    Ancient Bai Mu Dan is a white tea made from one bud and one leaf plucked in March.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At HOJO, we use tea leaves plucked from ancient trees grown naturally in Yunnan Province to produce Ancient Bai Mu Dan. This tea combines quality and visual beauty, making it extremely rare even in China. It has a floral flavor characteristic of white tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    White tea has a gentle flavor, making it popular with children, and is also recommended for cold brewing. Additionally, it is suitable for aging; when stored unopened (oxygen-free) for several years, it develops a muscat-like fruity flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To produce our Ancient Bai Mu Dan, we source fresh tea leaves from naturally cultivated, pesticide-free and fertilizer-free tea gardens in Yunnan Province and manage the processing ourselves to create the ideal white tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The leaves are plucked from trees estimated to be over 100 years old, offering a deep, rich flavor that penetrates deeply.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dried white tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/2018-01-25_13.20.53.png?v=1615892740\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We created our original Ancient Bai Mu Dan using tea leaves harvested from ancient trees growing at altitudes of around 2100 meters in Yunnan Province. This tea breaks the conventional concept of white tea with its exceptional quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Hazy mountain ridges beyond flowering plants and green trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0487.jpg?v=1615892785\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The landscape around the production area of Ancient Bai Mu Dan\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Quality of Raw Materials Directly Reflects the Quality of White Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The simplicity of white tea production means that the quality of the raw tea leaves directly affects the quality of the finished tea. Therefore, improving the quality of the fresh tea leaves naturally enhances the quality of the white tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Based on our experience, the highest quality tea leaves in China come from tea gardens in remote areas of Yunnan Province, at altitudes above 2000 meters, where the trees are naturally cultivated.\u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #fff;\"\u003en Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.01071em;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In these area, tea gardens are not like those in Japan or Fujian Province. The tea trees are left to grow naturally, and some trees can reach the height of a two-story house.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We select tea gardens that practice complete natural cultivation\/sustainable without pesticides, fertilizers, or even weeding around the trees, and arrange to obtain raw materials from these gardens.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A worker among dense tea trees on a hillside\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9880.jpg?v=1615892853\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Fujian Province White Tea Prices Skyrocket, Leading to Mass Production\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Fujian Province, famous for its white tea, prices have been rising continuously over the past 7-8 years. This trend started around 2000 when the concept of \"aging white tea through long-term storage\" was introduced.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Previously, white tea had to be sold within the year, but now, the older the tea, the higher the price it fetches. As a result, white tea has become an investment commodity in Fujian Province, with prices rising more than tenfold.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Naturally, to increase production and income, farmers in Fujian Province began using more fertilizers, leading to a general decline in tea quality. With high prices and low quality, HOJO has spent several years preparing to switch all our white tea production to Yunnan Province.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Terraced rows of tea bushes on a hillside\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4579.jpg?v=1615892913\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Typical white tea gardens in Fuding, Fujian Province\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Producing Our Own Tea Using Local Facilities\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    One frequent issue with producing white tea in Yunnan Province is the lack of proper tea processing techniques and management. Many producers in Yunnan believe that \"white tea only needs to be naturally dried\" and neglect the detailed steps, often diminishing the value of the high-quality raw materials.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If withering is not properly managed, the tea leaves can turn black due to excessive fermentation caused by inappropriate temperature, air circulation, and leaf overlap during the withering process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Such tea leaves develop a distinct flavor reminiscent of dried wood ear mushrooms, which I personally do not prefer. To bring out the best flavor from high-quality raw materials, proper management of the withering process is crucial.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Over the past few years, we have been involved in the actual production of white tea at the production sites. This experience has enabled us to produce white tea independently, provided we have the necessary facilities.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When producing Ancient Bai Mu Dan, we directed the production methods and management parameters to the workers and managed each batch to achieve the quality HOJO aims for.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea leaves spread out in a round bamboo tray\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9387-1.jpg?v=1615892978\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Using Naturally Cultivated Tea from High Altitude Gardens\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The raw tea leaves for this product were harvested around 2100 meters in the southwestern part of Lincang, Yunnan Province. The tea is plucked as one bud and one leaf.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A person in a hat standing among tea trees and white flowers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8928.jpg?v=1615893029\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding freshly plucked tea shoots and leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9347_836a56d4-dd4c-4d32-ac2a-8681acf0383d.jpg?v=1789407634\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    How to Make White Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    White tea is defined\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    How to Make White Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    White tea is defined as tea that undergoes withering and slight fermentation without pan-frying or rolling.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    White tea has a long history, existing for over 2000 years, making it one of the oldest types of tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Fresh tea leaves are plucked and then withered briefly in the sun before being slowly withered in the shade for several days. The dehydration stress gradually activates the tea's enzymes, resulting in slight fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If the withering time is short, the leaves retain a green color and floral flavor. Conversely, longer withering results in a slightly brown color and a fruity flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As mentioned earlier, if the tea leaves become damp during withering, they can turn black and develop an over-fermented smell similar to dried mushrooms. This product is withered for approximately 48 hours (depending on daily weather), resulting in a balanced flavor with floral and subtle fruity notes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea leaves spread across a woven bamboo mat\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9322.jpg?v=1615893095\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea leaves spread on tiers of bamboo racks\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/1A509DC4-A2BA-47A6-B004-570C5C4FB726.png?v=1615893281\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Achieving Rich Flavor by Avoiding Heat Processing\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    There are several methods to produce white tea. The mainstream method in Fujian Province involves a short heat treatment in a drying machine after the withering process. This helps to suppress the green-grassy note, clarifies the flavor and aroma, and brings out a sweet fragrance.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, while this process enhances the sweet flavor, it also diminishes the fresh and floral scent. The raw tea leaves used by HOJO are naturally cultivated and therefore have minimal green-grassy notes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, we deliberately omit the final heat treatment to preserve the fresh, distinctive flavor of just-withering white tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When you taste Ancient Bai Mu Dan, you will notice a rich floral fragrance, a very long finish, and a satisfying body. This tea is recommended not only for white tea enthusiasts but also for those new to white tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dried white tea leaves scattered on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1122-1.jpg?v=1615893141\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dry tea leaves in a white cup with a blue rim\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9334.jpg?v=1615893157\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Brewed tea leaves in a white cup with a blue rim\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9338.jpg?v=1615893180\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Pale yellow tea in a white cup with a porcelain spoon\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/FA973ACF-D9EB-4590-8C61-80848285B16C.png?v=1615893253\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (in a bag)","offer_id":43880370733232,"sku":"w03cc","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932451205296,"sku":"w03cb","price":6800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (50g x 12 bags)","offer_id":44932451238064,"sku":"w03cv","price":22800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3970-2.jpg?v=1787721646"},{"product_id":"s04","title":"Pu-erh Jasmine Pearl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    It is a rare jasmine tea that can only be made by us, as we stay in Yunnan for nearly two months every year to select teas according to our quality criteria.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Normally, jasmine tea is made of green tea. It has a strong jasmine flavor and a weak tea taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After trying many jasmine teas available in the market, we decided to produce our own jasmine tea using raw pu-erh tea. You might worry that raw pu-erh tea gives an odd flavor, like old furniture or a stale odor. This tea is totally different. On the first sip, you will enjoy an uplifting and refreshing jasmine bouquet, followed by a rich tea taste, a mellow drinking sensation, and a long-lasting aftertaste. This is not just an ordinary jasmine tea; it is a well-balanced jasmine tea in both taste and flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We carefully selected the base tea from a natural farming garden, which uses no pesticides or fertilizers. Thus, the tea grows slowly and is rich in minerals and tea substances, which you can tell by the deep lingering finish down the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/PJ9_480x480.jpg?v=1614962733\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"595\" height=\"385\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Why Use Pu-erh Tea for Jasmine Tea?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The reason for making jasmine tea from raw pu-erh tea is to achieve a richness in taste that cannot be obtained with ordinary tea leaves. The strength of the richness is reflected in the lingering flavor, and you can feel the jasmine flavor travel deep down the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0988-1.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The raw pu-erh tea used in this production is of such high quality that it could be part of HOJO's standard raw pu-erh tea lineup. This tea is grown entirely naturally, in a mountain about 12 hours by car from Lincang, near the Myanmar border. This area has limited infrastructure, no proper tar or cement roads, and you need a jeep or tractor to reach the producers in the Lahu villages. These areas have very little rain and very dry mountains, populated with tea trees planted by their ancestors hundreds of years ago. As a tradition of ethnic minorities, they do not use fertilizers or pesticides, and weeds growing around the tea trees are left unattended. They only remove the weeds once a year before the spring harvest, and then the weeds are left untouched until the next spring. According to them, this method of growing tea trees has been continued for over 1,000 years. With this method, tea trees grow very slowly and produce very few leaves, so the tea leaves contain a high concentration of minerals. The quality of these tea leaves is among the highest in China, but because it is located in the mountains, we obtained the tea leaves at a realistic price and made jasmine tea with a rich taste that is unachievable with ordinary tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0974-1.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea trees in the natural farming garden. Obviously, there are very few tea leaves on each tree.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0923-1.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Jasmine Raw Pu-erh Tea Resembles White or Green Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When you hear about jasmine raw pu-erh tea, you might think, \"Did you make jasmine tea with the brown-colored tea that tastes musty like old furniture?\" Many people associate pu-erh tea with dark-colored ripe pu-erh tea, which is made by microbial fermentation. Ripe pu-erh is a tea developed in the 1970s and has a history of about 40 years. On the other hand, raw pu-erh tea is dried under the sun after being heated in the same way as green tea, but for raw pu-erh tea, some remaining enzymes are activated during the sun-drying process, making it a semi-fermented tea. In other words, from the viewpoint of manufacturing methods, raw pu-erh is very close to white tea, green tea, or Taiwanese oolong tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_10941-1.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaves of raw pu-erh tea are green.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Enjoy the Lingering Sweetish Taste of Minerals Unavailable in Ordinary Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, it is said that the higher the quality of tea, the softer the taste, and after drinking such tea, the warmer the body feels. Drinking pu-erh jasmine tea makes your face blush and your body warm rapidly. This is because the minerals aid in improving blood circulation throughout the body, including the face. Depending on the amount you drink, you may feel too relaxed and experience a \"tea drunk\" feeling, which is a feeling of tipsiness caused by lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    How is the Jasmine Flavor Achieved?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The scenting process is conducted in Guangxi, the hub of jasmine flower plantations in China. Only fresh jasmine flowers of the right size are used, and the scenting is conducted repeatedly at night, at least five times, to produce the utmost quality of jasmine tea. Each time, fresh jasmine flowers are blended with the tea overnight to let the tea absorb the natural jasmine fragrance when the flowers bloom at night.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/jasmine03.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"316\" height=\"237\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/jasmine02.jpg\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"316\" height=\"237\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    With fresh jasmine flowers, the outcome of scented jasmine tea is totally different from commercial jasmine tea, which is perfumed with essential oil. The pu-erh jasmine pearl is scented with fresh jasmine flowers for many nights, so the jasmine flavor lasts for several brews. After brewing, the jasmine flavor still remains on the brewed leaf, unlike perfumed jasmine tea, where the flavor reduces drastically after the second brew.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/jasmine01_480x480.jpg?v=1615018250\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea in pearl shape is mixed with fresh jasmine flowers and proceeds for scenting overnight.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9235\/1065\/files\/Jasmine_02_480x480.jpg?v=1615018361\" alt=\"Jasmine Tea\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The next morning, the jasmine flowers are sieved and separated from the tea, and the tea will be dried and kept for the next scenting with fresh jasmine flowers again.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932450549936,"sku":"s04ca","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932450582704,"sku":"s04cc","price":3900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932450615472,"sku":"s04cb","price":7600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932450648240,"sku":"s04cv","price":18700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5267.jpg?v=1737905683"},{"product_id":"s03","title":"Snow Jasmine ( Bi Tan Pia Xue )","description":"\u003cimg alt=\"Green tea with jasmine flowers on a white dish\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7509\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4754-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\nThis premium jasmine tea is recommended for jasmine tea lovers and those who want to enjoy high-quality jasmine tea.\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Quality Jasmine Tea Relies on the Quality of the Tea Leaves!\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\nJasmine tea is not made from jasmine flowers or leaves. Typically, base tea is obtained, and jasmine scent is infused into it to make jasmine tea. Therefore, the quality of the base tea leaves is crucial. The biggest challenge in making good jasmine tea is obtaining high-quality tea leaves for base tea.\n\u003cimg alt=\"Tea leaves thickly mixed with fresh white jasmine flowers\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7504\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1745-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\nAll our jasmine teas are made by infusing freshly plucked jasmine flowers on the same day. Lower quality jasmine teas may recycle flowers that have already been used or use flavorings, but the difference in flavor quality is vast.\nIn general, a small amount of magnolia (a type of magnolia) is used in addition to jasmine flowers for scenting Jasmine Pearls (Mo Li Long Zhu). For making Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue), only fresh jasmine flowers are used for scenting without using magnolia.\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Producing Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue) from Mengding Ganlu\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\nSnow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue) is a representative jasmine tea of Sichuan Province. However, in recent years, it has become difficult to obtain satisfactory quality due to the rising prices.\nMany people wanted Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue), so we needed to improve our sourcing methods to get good tea.\nInstead of approaching Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue) processors, we directly sourced the base green tea, Mengding Ganlu, from the producers and sent it to a jasmine factory in Guangxi Region for scenting with jasmine flowers.\n\u003cimg alt=\"Curled green tea leaves on a white background\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7512\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3886-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\nThe picture above is Mengding Ganlu\n\u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of dry green tea with jasmine flowers\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7510\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4761-2.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Brewed tea leaves with jasmine flowers floating in a white cup\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7507\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4765-2.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Brewed green tea leaves and jasmine petals in a white cup\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7506\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4768.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Perfect for Cold Brew and Desserts\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\nSnow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue) is very delicious as a cold brew due to its refreshing flavor and deep flavor. Drinking cold-brewed Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue) on a hot summer day feels like the tea is spreading through your body, providing a refreshing sensation.\nTo make delicious cold brew tea, use \"boiled and cooled water\" instead of raw water. Boiling once increases the sweetness and flavor. As a guide, use about 5g of tea leaves for 1-2L of water. Adjust the concentration to your preference, starting with 1L\/5g and diluting if it's too strong. To make cold brew tea, put the tea leaves in water and leave them in the refrigerator for about half a day. Cold brew tea will retain its fresh flavor for about three days in the refrigerator. Remove the tea leaves once the flavor is sufficiently extracted to avoid any bitterness.\n\u003cimg alt=\"A metal scoop in a pile of dry tea leaves mixed with jasmine petals\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7513\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4734-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Storing Snow Jasmine (Bi Tan Piao Xue)\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\nWe include an oxygen absorber when shipping tea to create an anaerobic state. Therefore, the tea can be stored for 4-5 years or more depending on the environment in an unopened state while maintaining its freshness. Over long-term storage, the tea will not lose freshness but will gradually mature, developing a peach-like flavor. This flavor pairs well with jasmine tea, but if you want to maintain the state of the tea as it was at purchase, store it in the refrigerator. However, if you take the tea out of the refrigerator, the water condensation takes place and tea leaf will oxidize within a few days. Therefore, after taking it out of the refrigerator, let the tea return to room temperature for 24 hours before opening. If stored anaerobically in the refrigerator, jasmine tea can maintain its purchase-time freshness for 20 or even 30 years. However, storing opened tea in the refrigerator will accelerate deterioration, so avoid refrigerating opened tea.","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932450418864,"sku":"s03ca","price":2700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g (in can)","offer_id":44932450451632,"sku":"s03cc","price":4300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (large bag\/50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932450484400,"sku":"s03cb","price":12600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [50g x 3 bags] x 4 bags)","offer_id":44932450517168,"sku":"s03cv","price":41500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4734-1.jpg?v=1737905681"},{"product_id":"s01","title":"Jasmine Pearl","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n     Until now, HOJO has been using green tea made from tea leaves from Fujian Province to produce Jasmine Pearls. However, in recent years, the price of tea leaves from Fujian Province has skyrocketed due to the influence of the white tea market, leading to a significant increase in the price of jasmine tea as well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe wanted to continue supplying high-quality tea at the same price as before, so we decided to explore green tea raw materials suitable for jasmine tea outside Fujian Province.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter several years of examining green tea from various production areas in China in terms of quality, pesticide use, supply stability, and price, we found excellent raw materials in Yunnan Province.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYunnan Province's tea gardens are located at altitudes above 1500m, and since almost no fertilizer is used, the tea grows slowly, resulting in less bitterness and higher quality tea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause the base tea quality is high, we used one bud and one leaf (one bud and one leaf) to make Jasmine Pearls (Jasmine Longzhu), instead of just the buds as before, but the result is still smooth and without bitterness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy using one bud and one leaf instead of just the buds, we were able to reduce costs, allowing us to offer the product at a lower price than before. This is a highly cost-effective and affordable product.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaves are selected from March pluckings, which are plucked during a very cold period, so the components accumulated during the winter are concentrated in the new buds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fresh flavor of green tea reminiscent of spring and the floral scent of jasmine combine to create a very elegant and rich flavor. Particularly, first-time drinkers will be surprised by the depth of flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The flavor lingers in the throat, and you can feel the deliciousness of the tea throughout from the mouth to the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is the tea we most want you to experience first among HOJO's lineup, and it is also ideal for those new to Chinese tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    A Custom Jasmine Tea with No Compromises in Raw Green Tea, Jasmine Flowers, and Production Methods\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Do you know what determines the quality of jasmine tea? It is often thought that the quality is determined by the jasmine flavor, but this is not the case.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While the jasmine scent is naturally expected, more important is the quality of the tea leaves used in jasmine tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Some customers misunderstand jasmine tea as \"tea made from jasmine flowers\" or \"tea made from jasmine leaves,\" but proper jasmine tea refers to tea leaves that have absorbed the scent of jasmine flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, the quality of the tea leaves used greatly reflects the final quality of jasmine tea. The highest quality jasmine tea is made from tea buds plucked in the spring.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Incidentally, the tea plucking period can be identified by the ratio of white to black parts of the tea leaves. Early-plucked tea has more white parts, and even the darker parts are more silver in color.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We select March-plucked tea leaves. These are plucked during a very cold period, so the components accumulated during the winter are concentrated in the new buds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fresh flavor of green tea reminiscent of spring and the floral scent of jasmine combine to create a very elegant and rich flavor. The depth of flavor is particularly noteworthy.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The flavor lingers in the throat, allowing you to enjoy the deliciousness of the tea from the mouth to the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have fundamentally reviewed the quality of the raw tea leaves to create a quality that ordinary Jasmine Pearls cannot match.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Brewing is Easy with a Glass\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    You don't need special tea utensils to drink jasmine tea. Using a long glass, anyone can easily enjoy jasmine tea. Below is a picture of jasmine tea leaves opening in a long glass filled with hot water.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A tall glass on a wooden coaster with dry tea pearls at the bottom\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5374924B-FB6A-4C2B-8421-593BCC4762CE.png?v=1615904774\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Add a teaspoon of tea leaves. There's no need to be greedy and add a lot.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A tall glass just filled with hot water, bubbles around the tea pearls\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/956F43E7-DB38-4180-8964-43381E3CF89B.png?v=1615904796\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Let the boiled water cool a bit and gently pour it into the glass at 80-85℃.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea pearls starting to open in a tall glass of water\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5BC2B78E-F174-4ADC-8BF2-BBA2F57F0F5B.png?v=1615904811\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The tea leaves will start to open immediately. It is said that the higher the quality, the faster they open.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Opened green tea leaves resting at the bottom of a glass\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/58E6A64A-6241-4AD9-BF1B-A089587DFFCD.png?v=1615904834\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You may feel inclined to shake the glass, but to get a delicate taste, please leave it undisturbed.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Opened yellow-green tea leaves at the bottom of a clear glass\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/FCD3BB3A-E78E-4022-A730-B5CD195ED8D2.png?v=1615904855\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After 3 minutes, the hairs on the tea leaves will detach and float in the water. Gently swirl to even out the concentration.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Fully opened tea leaves and pale yellow tea in a glass\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A793204A-F42F-4641-8F03-504EDDB1D748.png?v=1615904872\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After finishing your tea, add more hot water. You can brew it 5-6 times.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Deliciousness of Cold Brew\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    HOJO's jasmine tea is made from green tea made only from soft buds harvested right after winter. This tea, traditionally used for white tea, is surprisingly delicious when cold brewed, astonishing even your family!\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Making it is very simple!\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePrepare about 1000ml of water for 5g (example). Using boiled water that has cooled will improve the flavor and taste.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eDo not use a teapot. Put the tea leaves and water in a plastic or glass container, such as a PET bottle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePlace the container in the refrigerator for several hours or more.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eIt is ready to drink when the tea leaves have fully opened.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The advantage of cold brew is its very mellow taste and sweet aftertaste, and it is safe to store in the refrigerator for 1-2 days without any issues.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you make too much, you can freeze it into ice cubes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two glass teapots, one with dry tea pearls and one with opened leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D5B0A28A-747E-47CE-88CE-30BE6E46705F.png?v=1615905045\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    What Differentiates Our Product from Others? - Detailed Explanation of the Differences in Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"Oh! I know this tea!\" they say.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many people think that all jasmine tea in a pearl shape is the same type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, did you know that the spherical jasmine tea \"Jasmine Pearl\" is produced by hundreds or thousands of different producers in China, Taiwan, and India? Each company produces similar-shaped jasmine tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In fact, even if the shape is the same, there are significant differences in quality and price. The purpose of shaping the tea into spheres is to make it easier to mix with jasmine flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, the mixing method, the type of jasmine used, the type of tea leaves, the tea leaf processing method, and many other factors greatly influence the quality. The most important factor affecting quality is the quality of the green tea used.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Green tea begins to be harvested in March, followed by April, May, June, and even autumn pickings that circulate in the market.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At HOJO, we use March-plucked green tea, and by seeking green tea produced with minimal use of fertilizers, we emphasize the richness of the aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rolled tea pearls pouring onto a wire sieve\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D0075DA9-051C-4813-BBA8-E613AD5A6BCC.png?v=1615905316\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cbr\u003e Before being shipped, the jasmine tea is sieved and visually inspected in Japan.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The History and Culture of Jasmine Pearl - Why Chinese Quality is the Best\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Jasmine flowers originate from Iran. It is said that jasmine flowers were brought to China via the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty, and it has been 1,700 years since jasmine entered China.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Initially, jasmine flowers were used solely for decoration. The practice of using jasmine flowers for tea began in Guangdong Province around the Southern Song period (1240).\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During the Ming Dynasty, the technology to infuse tea leaves with jasmine aroma dramatically improved, establishing methods for selecting raw materials, blending recipes, and drying methods, creating a manualized process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Large-scale industrial production began in Fuzhou during the Qing Dynasty. By 1900, the production of jasmine tea in Fuzhou reached 1,500 tons.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At its peak (1928-1938), the total production of jasmine tea reached 7,500 tons. By the end of the 19th century, foreign trading companies had established offices in Fuzhou, making jasmine tea an important trade item with foreign countries.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand pouring tea from a white lidded cup into a blue patterned vessel\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A347B9A1-FD3B-47BA-9247-F2E529EDAE5A.png?v=1615905428\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As its popularity increased, the production of jasmine tea expanded from the south to the north and east (Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan).\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, jasmine cannot grow in cold environments, and in colder regions, the flowers had to be moved indoors with heating.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to the high costs of managing this, northern production companies found it unprofitable and were eliminated. Jasmine's aroma also attracted the attention of Taiwanese tea traders.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In 1873, tea leaves were exported from Taiwan to Fuzhou for commissioned processing to add jasmine aroma. By 1882, Taiwanese traders had brought jasmine seeds back and began cultivation in Taiwan.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By 1939, the production of jasmine tea in Taiwan had reached 1,300 tons per year. However, due to Taiwan's unique climate, the aroma of jasmine flowers was inferior compared to those from China.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 1980, the Guangxi government has made great efforts to expand jasmine tea production. At the same time, Guangxi was recognized as the production area for jasmine flowers by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to these series of reforms, Guangxi's jasmine gardens are now the largest and known for producing high-quality jasmine.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Importance of the Encounter Between Excellent Tea Leaves and Flowers for the Best Jasmine Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A heap of white jasmine flowers\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/1005BF6E-9940-41DC-AB50-99F3077253C0.png?v=1615905470\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jasmine Flowers\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine buds on a stem among green leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E3FA8C7F-3C05-4C79-9011-AAF99BC2636C.png?v=1615905491\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jasmine Flowers\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Jasmine naturally prefers tropical climates and requires temperatures above 20°C. So far, it has been proven that Guangxi's jasmine cultivation areas are most suitable for growth.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This region is located in a subtropical monsoon climate. Thanks to this climate, jasmine can easily overwinter, with no concerns about freezing or frost.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During the flowering period, the atmospheric temperature should ideally be above 25°C. The jasmine gardens are located on the slopes of hilly areas.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This location provides good drainage and ample sunlight for jasmine. Additionally, the land is very fertile, producing large, fragrant flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to this quality advantage, it is said that the same level of aroma can be achieved with 70% of the quantity of other flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Until around 2010, the main tea leaves used for jasmine tea production were the Fuding Dabai variety from Fujian Province.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, due to the white tea boom in Fujian Province, the price of white tea soared, and many green tea farmers producing jasmine tea switched to white tea production.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While some farmers still produce green tea for jasmine tea, the prices have risen significantly, drawing attention to green tea from Yunnan Province in recent years.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At HOJO, we use green tea from Yunnan Province for Jasmine Pearl and blend buds from Yunnan and Fuding to create the ideal flavor for Jasmine Pearl Special.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rolled tea pearls scattered on a gray surface\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/67C25A5B-A826-40A8-8A9D-043018516748.png?v=1615905564\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Jasmine Flowers\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A jasmine field with white flowers under a blue sky\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A802C54E-2340-4DC2-9642-CBE3F4AD1E3D.png?v=1615905623\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jasmine Flower Fields\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Jasmine flowers can be broadly divided into three groups.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSingle-Petal Jasmine\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eDouble-Petal Jasmine\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eMulti-Petal Jasmine\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    ① Single-Petal Jasmine\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Before 1963, this type of jasmine was mainly cultivated for jasmine tea processing. Compared to Double-Petal Jasmine (8-9 am), this type blooms earlier (6-7 am). Its production is very low, and the yield per unit area is about half of that of Double-Petal Jasmine. Additionally, it is very susceptible to disease and has low environmental adaptability, so it is rarely cultivated in recent years.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    ② Double-Petal Jasmine\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to its high production, strong environmental adaptability, simultaneous blooming, and strong aroma, it is suitable for jasmine tea production.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    ③ Multi-Petal Jasmine\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After plucking, the flowers bloom from 7 to 8 am. However, because the blooming is not uniform and occurs gradually and randomly, it is not suitable for jasmine tea processing due to its weak aroma.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The harvesting period of flowers is not fixed due to differences in climate and growth conditions in various regions. Generally, it is divided into four main seasons.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSpring Flowers: Generally from May to June, producing 15% of the annual yield.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSummer Flowers: Generally in July, producing 30% of the annual yield.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e伏花 (Summer End Flowers): Generally in August, producing 30% of the annual yield.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eAutumn Flowers: Generally from September to October, producing 25% of the annual yield.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A person in a conical hat plucking flowers in a jasmine field\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A16B5FFC-EEF4-4DB4-BED3-89487576FB66.png?v=1615905717\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine flowers spread over tea pearls\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/1C0BB25B-3086-4B5B-A494-C0D15EA61F74.png?v=1615905691\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During spring, the yield is low, and the quality is inferior due to low environmental temperatures and lack of accumulated nutrients in the plants. Flowers harvested in early spring and late autumn are small and yellowish.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    They are not suitable for jasmine tea processing because they rarely bloom. The most suitable flowers for jasmine tea processing are those harvested in summer and late summer.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High temperatures, sufficient sunlight, and rain during these periods create more flowers, larger sizes, and better quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When harvesting, it is crucial to ensure that the plucked flowers bloom at night. Therefore, the flowers are carefully selected for jasmine tea processing. The criteria for flower plucking are as follows.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe petals are intact and white, with long stems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eGreen-petaled flowers do not bloom, so they are not plucked.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eFlowers that have already bloomed lose most of their fragrance, so they are not plucked.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Processing - All Made by Hand\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Jasmine Pearl is made through an extremely complex hand-crafted process. The green tea is processed in early spring and then stored until the jasmine season (summer). During the scenting process, excessive care is taken to ensure the best aroma is absorbed into the tea leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Processing Green Tea for Jasmine Tea\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Why are high-quality jasmine teas spherical? All high-quality jasmine teas are in pearl form.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Do you know the reason for this shape? It is actually to facilitate smooth mixing and distribution with jasmine flowers by processing the tea leaves into spheres to match the shape and size of jasmine buds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The spherical tea leaves and jasmine buds mix well together.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The production of Jasmine Pearl involves the following steps.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eIndoor Withering\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePan Frying: Enzyme Deactivation\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eFirst Drying\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eRolling\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSecond Drying\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eGrading\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eRe-firing\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eCooling\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Below are the details of each process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Indoor Withering\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After plucking, the tea leaves are carefully spread in a thin layer. Damaged leaves turn brown or black, affecting the final product's quality. The withering process continues until the tea leaves' moisture content reaches 70%. Withering reduces the grassy aroma, bitterness, and astringency, increasing the proportion of amino acids, resulting in a stronger sweetness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Pan Frying: Enzyme Deactivation\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaves are rapidly heated by passing through a drum heated to 260°C, deactivating the enzyme (polyphenol oxidase).\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At the same time, high-temperature processing helps to remove the grassy aroma. Heating makes the tea leaves softer, making them suitable for the subsequent rolling process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    First Drying\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaves are dried in a drying machine until their moisture content reaches 30%.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Rolling\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After drying, the tea leaves are cooled and then moved to the rolling process, which is done entirely by hand. The characteristic pearl shape is made to increase the surface area, making it easier to absorb the jasmine aroma. Because it is all done by hand, even skilled craftsmen can only produce 2kg of the product per day.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Second Drying\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The rolled tea leaves are dried again in a drying machine. Initially, the temperature is set high at 110-120°C, then adjusted to a lower temperature of 95-105°C. After drying, the product contains 7% moisture. The dried tea leaves are stored in a warehouse until the jasmine season. During storage, they are kept in vacuum containers in a shaded, cool place to maintain the moisture level below 9%. The tea leaves are pre-treated before the scenting process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Grading\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaf pearls are sieved and graded by size, while fragments and uneven leaves are removed.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Re-firing\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea leaves are dried again in a drying machine. The temperature is kept low (100-110°C) to avoid giving the tea leaves a burnt smell. Drying evaporates the moisture absorbed during storage and volatilizes any attached aromas. The final product's moisture content is below 5%.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Cooling\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The dried tea leaves are cooled to 60-80°C. The tea leaves are spread in a thin layer and cooled to a temperature 1-3°C higher than room temperature. If the tea leaves are not sufficiently cooled, it affects the subsequent scenting process. Jasmine flowers are very sensitive to changes in ambient temperature, and low temperatures are necessary for blooming.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea pearls opening in a glass as hot water is poured in\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D59BFD25-326B-4433-85ED-C93EB152B84A.png?v=1615905842\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman pouring hot water from a kettle into two glasses with tea pearls\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/942300DA-FE1B-405C-ACFD-CCDF91D0FA92.png?v=1615905812\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two glasses of yellow-green tea with opened leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A1E436F8-F5CB-4617-BBA6-AA3A1F4C8A00.png?v=1615905867\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Preparing Flowers for Jasmine Tea Production - Strict Quality Control Like a Florist!\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Freshly plucked jasmine flowers are managed based on the following criteria.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Cooling\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During transportation to the factory, the flowers continue to breathe, gradually increasing the temperature to 38°C. This temperature rise affects blooming in later stages, so the flowers are spread in a thin layer of less than 10cm. If the flowers are harvested after rain, they are spread in an even thinner layer, and an air blower is used to volatilize the moisture.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Fresh Flower Care\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This process strictly controls the temperature of the piled flowers. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that the flowers bloom when needed. Jasmine flowers are very sensitive to temperature changes. To bloom as scheduled, the flower temperature must be maintained at 32-37°C. If the temperature of the piled flowers falls below 30°C, the thickness is increased to raise the temperature, and if it exceeds 38°C, the layer is thinned to lower the temperature.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    Sieving\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When about 60% of the flowers have bloomed, they are sieved. The purpose of sieving is to grade the flowers by size and to remove green buds and stems. Only flowers of uniform size are collected and used. This is important to ensure they bloom at the same time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A thick layer of small jasmine flowers over tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/B2FFCD95-F248-429D-BA6A-A098D1DEFC4E.png?v=1615905978\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine buds piled on a white plate\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/8697A9F9-C1DC-4378-AE2B-5EDABE31A3AC.png?v=1615905994\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Mixing Tea Leaves and Jasmine Flowers - First-Class Care\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This is a very important process that greatly affects the quality of the final product. Here are the five important factors.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    1) Tea Leaves and Flowers Mixing Ratio\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The amount of flowers used depends on the grade of the final product. Higher-quality products require more flowers. To make 100kg of the highest grade jasmine tea, 100kg of flowers are needed. The 100kg of flowers are used in four rounds: 1) first scenting: 38kg, 2) second scenting: 30kg, 3) third scenting: 26kg, and 4) fourth scenting: 6kg. For first-grade products, the final scenting is not performed. For lower-grade jasmine tea, the tea leaves are scented with used flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    2) Blooming Ratio\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When more than 80% of the flowers have bloomed, the tea leaves and flowers are mixed. If mixed before sufficient blooming, the flowers will be crushed by the weight of the tea leaves and will not bloom further. Also, larger, fully bloomed flowers have a larger surface area, making scenting more efficient.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    3) Moisture Content\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During scenting, the moisture content of the tea leaves is maintained at 4-4.5%. After scenting, the moisture content of the tea leaves increases significantly. However, it is necessary to manage it so that the moisture content does not exceed 18%. If the moisture content exceeds 18%, the flowers begin to deteriorate, producing an unpleasant odor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    4) Thickness of Piled Flowers and Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The purpose of adjusting the thickness is to manage the temperature of the tea leaves and flowers. Generally, a thickness of 30-40cm is used, but the thickness is adjusted as needed based on various external factors.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    5) Mixing Tea Leaves and Flowers\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The process must be done quickly. The longer it takes, the more the flower aroma dissipates.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine flowers spread over tea pearls\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/1C0BB25B-3086-4B5B-A494-C0D15EA61F74_3566da54-10e1-4583-96ca-3748e3b29431.png?v=1615906045\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mixing Jasmine Flowers and Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The mixing process is carried out entirely by hand. First, the tea leaves and flowers are divided into 3-5 groups. The first group is spread in a layer of 10-15cm.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    On top of that, the flowers of the first group are piled. Similarly, each layer alternates between tea leaves and flowers. Finally, a rake is used to mix. The mixture of flowers and tea leaves is then left undisturbed for 5-6 hours.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    通花 (Ventilation)\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ventilation is carried out for three main reasons:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eTo lower the temperature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eTo provide air to the flowers, promoting continuous blooming.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eTo release carbon dioxide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Craftsmen use a rake to spread the mixture of tea leaves and flowers to a thickness of 10-15cm. This process is repeated every 15 minutes and continues for an hour. After that, the thickness of the layers of tea leaves and flowers is adjusted according to the temperature changes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In total, the scenting process takes 10-12 hours. If the temperature drops, the aroma is not fully absorbed, and if it rises too much, the flowers turn yellow and impart a spoiled smell to the tea, so temperature control is a very important factor in determining the quality of jasmine tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    起花 (Flower Separation) - Separating Flowers and Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once scenting is complete, the old flowers are removed. If the timing of removal is delayed, the flowers deteriorate and transfer an unpleasant odor to the tea leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine flowers mixed with dark tea pearls, some petals browning\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9FEA5AC7-4F1F-4176-82EC-C904C43112D7.png?v=1615906099\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jasmine Flowers Fully Bloomed Overnight\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Jasmine flowers spread over a perforated metal tray\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/62754C6C-617F-4587-A6F3-FB086560A056.png?v=1615906113\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Once the flowers open, they become larger than the tea leaves (pearls) and can be easily removed by sieving.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    烘焙 (Hong-bei) - Drying\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The scented tea leaves are dried in a drying machine. The drying conditions vary depending on the number of scenting rounds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eFirst Scenting - 110-120°C, Moisture Content 5.0-5.5%\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSecond Scenting - 100-110°C, Moisture Content 5.5-6.0%\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThird Scenting - 90-100°C, Moisture Content 6.0-6.5%\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After drying, the tea leaves must be cooled to below 40°C. Once cooled, the tea leaves proceed to the next round of scenting.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n    提花 (Ti-hua) - Final Scenting\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This process adds a very fresh flower aroma to the jasmine tea. The purpose of the final scenting is to enhance the jasmine aroma and impart the fresh scent of raw flowers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The highest quality jasmine flowers (large petals, white color, strong aroma) are used for this process. To preserve the natural flower aroma, the tea leaves are not dried after the final scenting.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Before the final scenting, the moisture content of the tea leaves is analyzed, and the amount of flowers to be used is calculated to ensure the final product's moisture content is below 8.5%.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A navy HOJO tea tin beside a lidded cup and tea tools\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/96AB11C7-99B0-40B5-B3DF-3482FA0DE1F2.png?v=1615906182\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Comments\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman tipping tea pearls from a small dish into a lidded cup\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5AF38A32-E738-4806-99C5-B23820B5D03D.png?v=1615906243\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932450189488,"sku":"s01ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932450222256,"sku":"s01cc","price":3800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932450255024,"sku":"s01cb","price":7200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932450287792,"sku":"s01cv","price":18100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/jasmine-pearl.jpg?v=1737905677"},{"product_id":"f08","title":"Rose Damascena ( Damascus Rose)","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n     Brewed Multiple Times\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Damascus Rose is a popular floral tea among women due to its sweet, honey-like flavor and refreshing taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We always select the batch made from the first-plucked roses of the spring season, which gives it a very deep and clear aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It has a completely different dimension of flavor compared to ordinary roses, with a sweet honey fragrance that emanates both externally and internally.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea can be steeped multiple times, up to 20 infusions. Even after half a day or a day later, its flavor hardly deteriorates.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It also pairs well with other teas, such as black tea. Adding 2 to 3 roses to black tea significantly enhances the sweet honey flavor, making it as fragrant as high-quality black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Purple rosebuds with green sepals\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/AC207C97-6D68-480F-8AC8-86DB876210DF.png?v=1615908856\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rosebuds heaped in a metal bowl\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/A70CFF0B-3896-4372-BE17-74B29A71BCCA.png?v=1615908946\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Close-up of purple rosebuds packed together\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/3C23D8BB-EFC9-4CF2-86CA-DAC783CD19FF.png?v=1615909031\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many people have experienced drinking rose tea before.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When I first tried rose tea, I thought it smelled like cinnamon, pickles, or spices, and I instantly disliked it.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Because of this bitter experience, I avoided rose tea until I encountered Damascus Rose.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My first encounter was at a department store perfume section. I happened to need perfume and came across a sample of Damascus Rose essential oil.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The sample was intended to help customers understand that a particular brand of perfume generously used Damascus Rose.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When I smelled it, I was shocked and truly impressed.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It had a completely different aroma from the roses I knew. It was incredibly sweet, like honey.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Damascus Rose Rose Damascena has a distinctly different aroma compared to ordinary roses. The experience with Damascus Rose was so intense that I wanted to sell it as rose tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    I searched various regions for the raw materials. Damascus Rose is mainly cultivated in Bulgaria, Turkey, and Iran.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, most of it is used for extracting essential oils and does not circulate as tea. Essential oils are sold for tens of thousands of yen for just a few grams, so producers grow Damascus Rose for the high profit from perfume.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    I sought out roses grown in the Gobi Desert in China's Xinjiang Region.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In this region, ethnic minorities cultivate roses organically, and the produced Damascus Rose circulates as rose tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Grown in desert areas with significant temperature differences between day and night, high-quality roses are produced.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To drink, it is common to brew Damascus Rose tea directly by pouring hot water. Usually, a few roses in a 200ml teapot are sufficient.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rosebuds floating in pale green tea in a white cup\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/269E06CD-ED8B-4583-A6F7-472F7EA54634.png?v=1615909105\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Enjoying Damascus Rose\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Damascus Rose can be brewed multiple times, up to 20 infusions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Even if you stop brewing and resume half a day or a day later, the flavor hardly deteriorates. It is recommended to place the teapot in the refrigerator when leaving it for a while.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My recommended way to enjoy delicious rose tea is to blend it with other teas.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My favorite method is to combine 2 to 3 Damascus Roses with green tea or white tea. The sweet flavor of Damascus Rose and the flavor of green tea complement each other incredibly well.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dry green tea leaves with rosebuds, and a glass of the brewed tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/5F0B1B7E-54EF-455D-8EAD-EB1F2A7A76A7.png?v=1615909168\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Damascus Rose also pairs very well with black tea. Adding just 2 to 3 roses to black tea significantly enhances the sweet honey flavor, making it as fragrant as high-quality black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The key is not to add too many roses, but to adjust so that the fragrance is faintly present in the background.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    My favorite way to drink it is to combine Pu-erh raw tea with Damascus Rose.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The rich taste of Pu-erh raw tea and the elegant flavor of roses create an excellent combination. Damascus Rose can be brewed many more times than black tea or green tea, so it is also an option to place the roses in a fair cup rather than directly in the teapot.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Rosebuds floating in yellow-green tea in a glass pitcher\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D0729FDE-CD2A-4095-A1FF-1CA25F211A42.png?v=1615909209\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932450058416,"sku":"f08ca","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g (in can)","offer_id":44932450091184,"sku":"f08cc","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (large bag\/50g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932450123952,"sku":"f08cb","price":4400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [50g x 2 bags] x 6 bags)","offer_id":44932450156720,"sku":"f08cv","price":22800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/AC207C97-6D68-480F-8AC8-86DB876210DF.png?v=1737905676"},{"product_id":"w25","title":"Ancient White Tea ( Gushu Bai Cha )","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Green and silvery tea leaves in a metal scoop\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4846-1.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ancient White Tea (Gushu Baicha) is made from tea leaves plucked from old trees, using one bud and two to three leaves. It is a luxurious white tea that combines a floral flavor with a long, lingering aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Metal bowl filled with tea leaves covered in fine white down\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7603\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4771-1.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tea from High-Altitude Old Trees\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ancient White Tea is made from tea grown in sustainable, naturally cultivated gardens at an altitude of 2100–2200 meters in Zhenkang County, Lincang City. The tea leaves are sourced from a garden owned by a friend and fellow tea producer with whom we collaborate. Due to the high altitude, old tree age, and natural cultivation, the tea grows very slowly, and the first flush is not harvested until April. Slowly grown tea is rich in minerals and polyphenols, resulting in a deep aftertaste and a long finish.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea trees and grass in a garden with mountains behind\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7591\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3629.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Refreshing Citrus Flavor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To bring out the best characteristics of Ancient White Tea, we pluck using one bud and 2–3 leaves rather than one bud and one leaf. Baihao Yinzhen (Silver Needle), made from a single bud, and Bai Mudan (White Peony), made from one bud and one leaf, both have a creamy texture due to their high amino acid content. In contrast, one bud and 2–3 leaves contain more polyphenols, resulting in a cleaner taste and a more pronounced floral flavor. Ancient White Tea has a refreshing citrus character and a clear, transparent taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dry green and silvery tea leaves in a white bowl\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7602\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4870-2.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Hand holding a spoon in a white bowl of pale yellow tea\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7595\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4877.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Green and silvery tea leaves on a white dish\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7594\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4871.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Enhanced Flavor with Aging\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Teas with high polyphenol content are well suited for aging. In the case of white tea in particular, aging in an oxygen-free environment further enhances its flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Pile of green and silvery tea leaves on a dark surface\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7597\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4851.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Non-Heat Processing of White Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    White tea is made without applying any heat, which preserves the enzymes in the tea leaves. After plucking, the leaves are spread on mats in a well-ventilated indoor space to slowly release moisture through withering. This dehydration stress activates the leaf enzymes, triggering a gentle fermentation. Unlike oolong and black tea, where heat is applied after withering to halt fermentation, white tea is continuously withered and simultaneously dried until fully dry.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Man spreading tea leaves by hand on a bamboo mat\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7593\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3944.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Bamboo tray filled with dry tea leaves covered in fine white down\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7592\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3985.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Ideal for Cold Brew Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is also excellent when cold brewed. As a guide, 5g of tea leaves can yield about 2 liters of cold brew. Simply soak the leaves in water and refrigerate for about half a day. Be sure to remove the leaves after brewing. Using water that has been boiled and cooled will further enhance the flavor and aroma. Stored in the refrigerator, it stays fresh for several days. Children love it too, so it is well worth trying.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (in a bag)","offer_id":43880369848496,"sku":"w25cc","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932438524080,"sku":"w25cb","price":5400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (50g x 12 bags)","offer_id":44932438556848,"sku":"w25cv","price":18700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8415.jpg?v=1737905528"},{"product_id":"w30","title":"High Mountain White Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dry white tea leaves in a stainless steel bowl\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8731\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8418.jpg?v=1641395076\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High Mountain White Tea is a white tea made from one bud and two leaves plucked at an altitude of 2100m to 2300m. It has a soft taste and a refreshing flavor that reminds one of grass, perilla, honey, and peaches.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since the tea garden is far from the village, the amount sourced is limited, making it a rare tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Large dry white tea leaves in a white cup\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8745\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/w30_03.jpg?v=1713923309\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tea Garden Untouched by Humans for Decades\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High Mountain White Tea is made from tea harvested from Bai Yan Shan in Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, at an altitude of 2100m to 2300m, and nearby mountains. The tea trees are estimated to be 100 to 150 years old. The tea garden has been left unattended for decades, and the tea trees have become semi-wild. In China, such tea gardens are called \"wild tea gardens.\"\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Forested mountain ridges fading into haze\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8746\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/w30_02-1.jpg?v=1713923310\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Honey Fragrance Formed by Leafhoppers\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In addition to the high altitude, the characteristic of High Mountain White Tea is that it comes from tea gardens with plenty of sunshine. Tea from sunlit gardens has a very floral flavor. Moreover, sunlit tea gardens are prone to leafhoppers, resulting in many tea leaves that have been attacked by them.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When bitten by leafhoppers, the tea tries to resist by biosynthesizing a substance called terpenoid, which is equivalent to antibodies in humans.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When this substance is changed through fermentation and aging, it forms a honey fragrance similar to that found in Oriental Beauty. Even in its fresh state, High Mountain White Tea has a faint honey fragrance. Generally, the honey fragrance becomes more pronounced as fermentation and aging progress. It is expected that High Mountain White Tea will develop a clearer honey fragrance (muscatel flavor) after being aged in an anaerobic environment for several years.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/blogs\/blog\/posts-895\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    High-Altitude Tea is High-Quality Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When sourcing tea, we invariably prefer tea gardens at high altitudes. As you can imagine, the climate in high-altitude areas allows for strong sunlight and high temperatures during the day, while nights cool down rapidly. This results in vigorous photosynthesis during the day and minimal consumption activities at night, making the tea rich in components and giving it a more dense flavor and aroma.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Not just tea, but vegetables, wild plants, and fruits from high-altitude regions have an absolute advantage in quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dry white tea leaves in a white cup on a patterned surface\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8737\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8435.jpg?v=1713923121\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A cup of pale tea beside a cup of brewed leaves\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8736\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8445.jpg?v=1713923123\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High Mountain White Tea has a refreshing flavor reminiscent of perilla and herbs, with a hint of peach, and a sweet muscatel aftertaste. It features a smooth mouthfeel and a transparent flavor. In addition to brewing with hot water, we also recommend brewing with cold water. It might also be interesting to let some of the tea age for a long time without opening the package to bring out the muscatel flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (in a bag)","offer_id":43880369815728,"sku":"w30cc","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932438458544,"sku":"w30cb","price":6200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (50g x 12 bags)","offer_id":44932438491312,"sku":"w30cv","price":20700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4110-2.jpg?v=1787720261"},{"product_id":"d161","title":"Tang Jia Raw Pu-erh Tea 2022","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        Unique Characteristics of 2020 and 2021 Harvests\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Tang Jia Raw Pu-erh Tea has a well-balanced taste with a moderate body and a long aftertaste. The 2020 harvest has a creamier and smoother mouthfeel, while the 2021 harvest offers a longer aftertaste and a sharp, transparent taste.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When thinking of Pu-erh tea, many may imagine a tea with a brown liquor and the flavor of dried mushrooms or dried fruits. However, that type of tea is Ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Raw Pu-erh tea is fruity and delicate, much like freshly made white wine. It has no bitterness or astringency, making it very popular with children.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDifference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Tang Jia Raw Pu-erh Tea is made from spring tea harvested from tea gardens at an altitude of 2000–2100 meters in the western part of Lincang City, Yunnan Province. The name \"Tang Jia\" comes from the family name \"Tang,\" who own the tea garden. Despite having many old trees that anyone would envy, the Tang family's tea garden was left unattended for about 30 years until 2018, without any tea being plucked.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003e\n        Ancient Tea Garden Left Unattended for 30 Years Due to Family Circumstances\n    \u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        The Tang family used to be tea farmers, but after the current head of the family inherited the property, they switched to raising cattle and goats. The high-quality meat of cattle and goats grazed on wild mountain grass in the high-altitude areas of Lincang fetches high prices. Even pen-raised cattle sell for around 10,000 yuan (approximately 150,000 yen) per head, and free-range cattle command even higher prices, making livestock farming a coveted occupation in the village. Consequently, many tea garden owners, like the Tang family, have switched to livestock farming.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        \u003cimg alt=\"Person herding cattle and goats along a dirt path\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_3084.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7724\" width=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Initially, the Tang family expected his wife to be involved in tea production while Mr. Tang (pictured above) managed the livestock. However, since the livestock farming provided sufficient income, his wife had little interest in working the tea garden. As a result, the garden was left unattended for years, creating tension within the family — particularly with the mother-in-law — and ultimately leading to their divorce a few years ago.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        \u003cimg alt=\"People walking with cattle up a rocky red-soil slope\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8771.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-7730\" width=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Me attempting to touch a goat kid.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Now in his 50s, Mr. Tang remarried after his first wife left. His new wife is a refugee from Kokang, Myanmar.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Kokang was a region of intense civil conflict, with fighter jets and mortar shells flying overhead until just a few years ago. The western part of Lincang is only about 50 kilometers from Myanmar, and accepting refugees from there is common. In counties like Zhenkang and Yongde, it is not unusual for locals to marry people from Myanmar.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        \u003cimg alt=\"Smiling woman in a striped top standing among tea bushes\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0111.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7728\" width=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Mr. Tang's new wife from Myanmar (pictured above) is an incredibly hard worker. Within less than six months, she transformed the completely overgrown garden into a pluckable state by clearing the underbrush and cutting down small trees. Her extraordinary work ethic made her famous in the village, and the tea garden became known as \"the ancient tea garden of the Myanmar wife.\"\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        In 2018, I attempted to source Tang Jia's tea, but due to its popularity I could only secure a small amount of the raw tea leaves. In 2019, I decided to rent the Tang family's tea garden. Fortunately, the tea producer I collaborate with is a relative of the Tang family, which allowed me to arrange the rental fee through the producer and secure a one-year lease.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Following local custom, when renting a tea garden you pay the rental fee upfront and also pay the Myanmar wife a fair rate for plucking the tea. This arrangement provides the Tang family with additional income from the rental fee.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        \u003cimg alt=\"Hillside tea garden covered in bright green tea bushes\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_2838-2.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-7726\" width=\"630\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        The Tang family's tea garden after clearing the overgrowth.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003e\n        Slowly Grown Tea Trees\n    \u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Interestingly, even tea trees that have thrived for hundreds of years can suddenly become weak and die if fertilized. Farmers with this knowledge avoid using any fertilizers to prevent weakening the trees. The Tang family has\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but on teas with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we seek out remote mountain villages and select tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through channels off the beaten path. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to originate from famous regions are produced across thousands of locations using leaves sourced from elsewhere, and can be found everywhere — from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What makes the situation more complex is a well-known phenomenon among local sourcing professionals: teas made from leaves grown in remote, lesser-known areas often surpass the genuine articles in quality. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands such as Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are highly regarded because teas produced before 1990 are considered exceptionally valuable.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Why are those older teas so special? Many assume it is simply due to long aging, but the real reason is that the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, giving them inherently superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This means that even if today's teas are aged for just as long, they will not reach the same level. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932435509424,"sku":"d161ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932435542192,"sku":"d161cc","price":7600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932435574960,"sku":"d161cv","price":26800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4140-1_380bf309-426a-475c-8594-1ea5b182134f.jpg?v=1788163472"},{"product_id":"b70","title":"Tsukigase Black Tea Benihikari","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A pile of dark dried black tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9496.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have released a black tea from Tsukigase, Nara Prefecture, made from the Benihikari cultivar grown without pesticides or fertilizers.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This black tea was developed in collaboration with the producer in Tsukigase, and we were directly involved in improving the production methods.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Japanese black tea is often said to have a distinctive fragrance, commonly regarded as one of its defining characteristics.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have found that in many cases this fragrance is actually caused by insufficient control of enzymatic fermentation during processing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We designed this production method to address this issue and to avoid over-fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Green tea leaves piled in a wooden box\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_6931-1.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Pesticide Free Benihikari Black Tea from Tsukigase, Nara\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase, Nara was once called Tsukigase Village, but in 2005 it was incorporated into Nara City. Even as it became part of Nara City, its nature and climate still remain strongly present today.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tsukigase is located at the northeastern edge of Nara Prefecture, close to Minamiyamashiro Village in southern Kyoto and Iga Ueno City in Mie Prefecture. Across the slopes, tea gardens spread alongside plum groves, with the deep valley carved by the Nabari River forming a clear boundary. The terrain, with its elevation difference from the mountain foothills down to the Nabari River at the valley bottom, creates a large day-to-night temperature range, bringing softness and a clear fragrance to the tea through natural stress.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The soil there is formed from the ancient Lake Biwa strata, created roughly 5 million to 1 million years ago. The deep layers contain sediments and fossils, and in some places iron-rich yellowish soil is found in the surface layer. Tea gardens developed along the mountain shoulder often have a thick yellow soil layer, and that is where we source our lot. This iron-rich soil has the characteristic of producing a long finish. Because the tea gardens are situated on slopes rather than flat land, the root systems develop to draw water from deeper layers rather than relying on moisture near the surface, allowing the plants to absorb minerals from greater depths.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A green tea plantation on a hillside with trees at the top\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_6939-1.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tea gardens in Tsukigase\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    The Importance of Fermentation Control in Black Tea Production\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Japanese black tea, often referred to as Wakocha, is frequently said to have a distinctive fragrance that many consider a defining characteristic.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, from a tea manufacturing perspective, this is not a natural characteristic of Japanese black tea, but an over-fermentation odor caused by insufficient control of enzymes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Japan, equipment designed for green tea is often reused for black tea production, even though it is not well-suited to black tea processing. As a result, producers often fail to stop enzyme activity precisely during heating and drying, allowing fermentation to proceed too far.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Consequently, the tea is over-fermented and tannins known as thearubigins are formed, while amino acids break down reductively, generating a musty odor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This musty smell is not a characteristic of Japanese black tea, but a flaw caused by problems in the manufacturing process. We often find the same type of odor in black teas from Taiwan, China, and India when manufacturing is poorly controlled.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To prevent such defects, we focus carefully on how each stage of the manufacturing process is designed and controlled. Based on a clear understanding of processing conditions, we evaluate the finished tea and select only lots that show clean, well-controlled aromatic quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Wet reddish brown tea leaves in a white dish\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9505.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A white cup filled with amber colored tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9509.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tea with a Fragrance Reminiscent of Pineapple and Grapes\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Benihikari is a black tea cultivar developed in Japan in 1969 by crossing Benikaori with a Chinese-lineage tea plant, known for its light, menthol-like character.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is lightly fermented, producing a clean and refreshing fragrance with subtle menthol notes and impressions of pineapple, grapes, and honey. The fragrance remains clear even through multiple infusions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932426956976,"sku":"b70ja","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"50g (in a bag)","offer_id":44932426989744,"sku":"b70jc","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"150g (50g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932427022512,"sku":"b70jb","price":6200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (50g x 12 bags)","offer_id":44932427055280,"sku":"b70jv","price":20700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9496.jpg?v=1767797895"},{"product_id":"o49-2026","title":"Phoenix Oolong Mi Lan Xiang Nong Xiang 2026 No.1","description":"\u003ch2\u003ePhoenix Oolong Mi Lan Xiang Nong Xiang 2026 No.1\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\u003cp\u003eMi Lan Xiang has a sweet, lychee-like flavor. Many people trying it for the first time are surprised by a fruit flavor so pronounced that it is hard to believe it comes from tea. Its flavor is that sweet and fruity.\u003cbr\u003eThe Nong Xiang style is a very popular way of finishing tea in China. As the name “thick aroma” suggests, it is characterized by an intense flavor. This tea undergoes two rounds of charcoal roasting. Rather than using high temperatures, gentle heat is applied over a long period at a temperature low enough to avoid scorching the leaves. This accelerates the aging of the tea’s components, creating a captivating, fruit-like flavor.\u003cbr\u003eIf you have never tried Phoenix Oolong, this is the tea we would like you to try first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hojo-phoenix-common\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe frequently visit Fenghuang Town in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, to source high-quality Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong tea directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_7967.jpg\" alt=\"An old Phoenix Dan Cong tree on Wu Dong Shan and me, Akira Hojo\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn old Phoenix Dan Cong tree on Wu Dong Shan and me, Akira Hojo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_7986.jpg\" alt=\"Tea trees growing on the steep, rocky slopes of Wu Dong Shan\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTea trees growing on the steep, rocky slopes of Wu Dong Shan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"15g (small bag)","offer_id":45618963218608,"sku":"o49ca","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"40g (in can)","offer_id":45618963251376,"sku":"o49cc","price":3900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"120g (large bag\/40g x 3 bags)","offer_id":45618963284144,"sku":"o49cb","price":11400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [40g x 3 bags] x 5 bags)","offer_id":45618963316912,"sku":"o49cv","price":46800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/o49_2013_01.jpg?v=1737905474"}],"url":"https:\/\/hojotea.com\/en-en\/collections\/choosing-your-first-hojo-tea.oembed","provider":"お茶の専門店HOJO \/ HOJO CO., LTD.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}