Premium Ceremonial Matcha Koicha First Vintage '初昔' | Ryuouen

**Due to a matcha shortage in Japan, we are limiting matcha purchases to one item per brand per person. You will no longer be able to buy multiple sizes or varieties of matcha from the same brand. For our Sold-by-Weight Rindo, Organic Matcha, Matcha for Latte, and Hojicha powder we can only accommodate min purchase from 50g and up to 200g per person. If you order more than your limit, we will refund the excess purchase and you will only receive the amount you are allowed. This policy ensures that every customer has the opportunity to enjoy these premium products. Thank you for your understanding and support!

First Vintage is a type of matcha known as 'Koicha 濃茶.' It is a premium matcha normally served in formal tea ceremony. You will appreciate its strong and sweet, full-bodied flavour.

What is the difference between 'Usucha 薄茶' and 'Koicha 濃茶'?

-Usucha 薄茶:
・Has a lighter, more delicate flavor and is generally more affordable.
・Prepared by whisking one and a half scoops of matcha with more hot water than Koicha.
・Often considered a "side dish" or a less formal option in the tea ceremony.
・During the tea ceremony, Usucha is served to guests in individual bowls and is enjoyed while conversation and socializing take place.

-Koicha 濃茶:
・Has a strong, full-bodied flavor with a natural sweetness and is often more expensive.
・Prepared by whisking three heaping scoops of matcha with a small amount of hot water.
・Considered the most important part of the tea ceremony and is served to guests in individual bowls.
・During the tea ceremony, all attention is focused on the serving and drinking of Koicha.

Detail
Net weight: 39g

Artisan
Established in 1875, Ryuouen '柳桜園' is an unusual case among long-established teahouses, as it's run by only nine employees. One day, we received some tea from Ryuouen as a souvenir from Japan and were incredibly impressed by its taste. We contacted Ryuouen, and they explained, "We make an effort to maintain the quality of our tea, and to achieve this, we prefer to keep our business small." They sell their products exclusively in their own stores, do not sell online, and only open pop-up shops a few times a year. Additionally, what impressed us was that they haven't changed their method of selling tea. It takes one hour to grind 40 grams of matcha, and the tea is sold by weight in their store.

After sharing our enthusiasm for matcha with them, they agreed to let us sell their products in Australia. We are honoured to be able to bring their matcha to Australia and share this exceptional tea with you.