Kukicha facts for kids
| Kukicha.jpg | |
| Type: | Green |
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| Other names: | Stalk tea, stick tea, twig tea |
| Origin: | Japan |
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| Quick description: | Popular in Japan, taste between that of gyokuro and sencha, with a light flavour and a fresh green aroma |
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| Temperature: | 80 °C (176 °F) |
| Time: | 40 sec to 1 min |
Kukicha (茎茶), also known as twig tea or bōcha (棒茶), is a special Japanese tea. It's different because it's made from the stems, stalks, and twigs of the tea plant, not just the leaves. This gives Kukicha a unique taste and smell that stands out from other teas. You can find it as a green tea or processed in other ways.
Contents
What is Kukicha Tea?
Kukicha is a type of tea that uses parts of the tea plant usually left out of other teas. These parts include the stems, stalks, and twigs. This makes Kukicha special and gives it a mild, slightly sweet, and nutty flavor.
Where Do the Tea Stems Come From?
The stems and twigs used for regular Kukicha usually come from making other popular Japanese teas. These include sencha (a common green tea) or matcha (a powdered green tea).
When the stems come from making gyokuro (a very high-quality green tea), Kukicha gets a special name. It's called karigane (雁ヶ音 / かりがね) or shiraore (白折 / しらおれ).
Understanding Karigane and Shiraore
Historically, karigane was the name for Kukicha made only from the stems of gyokuro tea plants. Today, the word karigane can also mean any high-quality Kukicha, no matter where its stems came from. If the karigane specifically comes from the Kyushu region in Japan, it is called shiraore.
How to Make Kukicha Tea
To get the best flavor from Kukicha, it's important to steep it correctly.
- Use water that is between 70 and 80 °C (158 and 176 °F) (158 and 176 degrees Fahrenheit).
- If you have the green variety of Kukicha, steep it for less than one minute.
- Steeping it for too long or using water that is too hot can make the tea taste bitter. This is true for most green teas.
Many people enjoy steeping Kukicha multiple times. You can often get three or four good cups of tea from the same tea leaves (or in this case, stems and twigs!).
Kukicha and Healthy Eating
Kukicha is a favorite tea for people who follow a macrobiotic diet. This diet focuses on natural, whole foods and aims for balance in what you eat.
See also
In Spanish: Kukicha para niños
