{"product_id":"0601e1-ishizuchi-kurocha-aged-3-years-fermented-dark-tea-from-ehime-prefecture-eh002","title":"#0601.E1 Ishizuchi Kurocha (Aged 3+ years) - Fermented Dark Tea from Ehime Prefecture - EH002","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIshizuchi Kurocha is one of Japan’s rarest teas. A tradition of the village of Ishizuchi, Ehime Prefecture, it is currently being revived by the Satsukikai project\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch has shown that ishizuchi kurocha is rich in lactobacillus plantarum (post fermentation and before sundrying, 100,000 count per gram was measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSteeping Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe recommend steeping parameters are: 1.5g \/ 1-2 min \/ 95C (203F) \/ 300 ml.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore traditionally, it is actually brewed: 1.5g \/ boil for 10 min in 1 liter of water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFlavor\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flavor is fresh and bright with notes of red berries. Compared to the Ishizuchi Kurocha that has not been fermented for as long, the flavor is more rounded and the sour berry notes are not as potent. The aftertaste is refreshing and very mildly sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical records do not show exactly when the tea was first grown and produced in the regions surround Mt. Ishizuchi, but the book \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHonchochokan\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e本朝食鑑\u003c\/span\u003e) in 1697 and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSaijoshi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(西條誌) in 1842 mention it as a regional tea. It was more widely produced for locals during up to the Taisho period (1911-25) but slowly died out during the Showa period (1926-1989) as changes to agriculture economy swept the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, this rare tea is made by the Ishizuchi Kurocha Satsukikai, a preservation society dedicated to maintaining the production of this folk tea. The society was established because in 1996, only 1 person was left who knew how to produce the tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow is Ishizuchi Kurocha Produced?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 1: In July each year, branches with mature leaves are harvested by hand\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-1.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 1: In July each year, branches with mature leaves are harvested by hand\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 2: Leaves are removed and washed thoroughly in flowing water. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-2.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 2: Leaves are removed and washed thoroughly in flowing water.\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 3: Leaves are steamed for about an hour \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-3.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 3: Leaves are steamed for about an hour\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 4: Leaves softend by steaming are packed into a barrel and left to ferment\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-4.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 4: Leaves softend by steaming are packed into a barrel and left to ferment\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 5: Removed from fermentation, you can see the mold that has formed on the leaves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-5.webp?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 5: Removed from fermentation, you can see the mold that has formed on the leaves.\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 6: Fermented leaves are rolled by hand. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-6.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 6: Fermented leaves are rolled by hand.\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 7: Leaves stored in containers again for lacto fermentation \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-7.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 7: Leaves stored in containers again for lacto fermentation\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 8: Leaves are removed sundried for 2 days \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-8.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 8: Leaves are removed sundried for 2 days\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 9: Finished dried leaf after two months of processing from harvest! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0926\/4578\/files\/ishizuchi-9.jpg?v=1701913328\u0026amp;width=700\" alt=\"Step 9: Finished dried leaf after two months of processing from harvest!\" style=\"float: none; width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e","brand":"Satsukikai","offers":[{"title":"10g \/ 0.35 oz","offer_id":46046596628563,"sku":"cny1787858532783","price":16.81,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g \/ 3.5 oz","offer_id":46046596661331,"sku":"zyn1787858532784","price":142.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0643\/8040\/3795\/files\/0601e1-ishizuchi-kurocha-aged-3-years---fermented-dark-tea-from-ehime-prefecture_1.jpg?v=1787858538","url":"https:\/\/covevia.shop\/products\/0601e1-ishizuchi-kurocha-aged-3-years-fermented-dark-tea-from-ehime-prefecture-eh002","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}