Kabuse tea facts for kids
| Kabuse tea.jpg | |
| Type: | {{{Tea_type}}} |
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| Other names: | Covered tea |
| Origin: | Japan |
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| Quick description: | A tea leaf from a tea plant that has been covered for some period of time. |
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Kabuse tea, also known as kabusecha (かぶせ茶), is a special type of Japanese tea. The word Kabuseru (かぶせる) means "to cover" or "to place on top," like putting a hat on your head. This name tells you how this tea is made.
Kabuse tea leaves come from tea plants that have been covered for a short time. This covering usually lasts between 2 and 25 days. A special cloth or material is draped over the plants while their new, young leaves are growing. This method helps create a unique flavor. Kabuse tea is almost always made from the first harvest of the year. Even though it's usually made into green tea, the covered leaves can be used to make other types of tea too, like oolong tea or black tea.
Contents
Why Kabuse Tea is Special
Kabuse tea leaves are used to make some of Japan's most expensive green teas. The other two are gyokuro and matcha. These special teas are made from leaves picked by hand. They are grown in the shade, which makes them very high quality.
The "Covered Aroma"
When tea plants are grown in the shade, their leaves develop a special taste and smell. The Japanese call this ooika, which means "covered aroma." These shaded leaves have a lot of theanine and other amino acids. These are natural compounds that give the tea its amazing and unique flavor.
How Kabuse Compares to Other Teas
Kabuse tea is shaded for a shorter time than gyokuro tea. Because of this, it's sometimes called a "shade-grown sencha." Sencha is another popular Japanese green tea, but it's usually grown in full sunlight.
Scientists have studied the differences between kabuse-cha and sencha. They found that kabuse-cha has many more special compounds called "ionone series compounds." These compounds are a big part of what makes kabuse tea smell and taste so distinct.
The Covering Process
The idea behind covering kabuse tea plants came from an older method. This method, called the tanakake tea process, is used to grow tencha. Tencha is the base for matcha tea.
The term "kabuse tea" is often used to market green teas that are better than average quality. Covering the tea plants is a delicate process. If it's not done carefully, it can stress the plant. This could even lead to damage or disease. But when done right, it creates a truly special tea.
