Shopping Cart

The History Of Japanese Tea

Japan has been drinking tea for more than 1,500 years. It is said that they imported the tradition of tea drinking from China but it may have actually existed even before this time.

Tea plantations located in Japan go back to the 12th century which at the time were made by Buddhist monks. Interestingly, it was here that matcha, a form of green tea was the preferred choice. 

With Japanese tea becoming a more popular choice of beverage in many parts of the world, we stock the most popular and in demand teas such as matcha, hojicha, and sencha. There are various types of tea depending on the region, but they all have certain characteristics in common and make up a key element of our groceries range.


Our Carefully Selected Range Of Japanese Teas

Japanese tea originates from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The most popular types of Japanese tea encompass a wide range of green teas.

Green tea is made by steaming the fresh leaves, preserving the natural nutrients and enzymes within. It has a light and refreshing taste.

If you're looking to try one out for yourself, all of our Japanese teas are available to enjoy at our Cafe in Camberwell, made by our expert baristas.

Matcha 

Matcha is a type of green tea that has been ground into a fine powder. It is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Matcha is consumed in different ways, of which the traditional method is to whisk the tea in a bowl with hot water. Our Haiku Matcha is the perfect compliment to start your day.


Sencha

Sencha is a traditional form of green tea that originated in Japan in the 17th century. It became popular back then and is now the most consumed teas by both Japanese and people all around the world.  

Sencha gets its flavour from green tea which has been grown in full sunlight. The highest leaves are then picked, resulting in a tea that is stronger in flavour and overall a much higher quality.

Sencha freezes very well making it the perfect tea for iced green tea lattes. 


Hojicha 

Hojicha, otherwise known as roasted tea, is made by roasting Japanese green tea leaves over charcoal or gas heat until they turn brown and brittle. The roasted leaves are then ground into a powder which can be mixed with hot water to make a drink similar to matcha.

Hojicha is light and produces an earthy taste making it the perfect choice for those who don’t want the sharpness of other green teas.