Comprised of both leaf and stalk from shade-grown tea only. The dry leaf is an attractive color contrast and the cup is gentle and bright with fresh vegetal flavors. This tea was produced in 2025 by Otsuka Green Tea Co., a family-owned tea company that was founded in 1869 in Shizuoka, Japan. It’s been owned and operated by the same family for five generations. Their tea factory is located near the Nissaka area of Shizuoka, not far from Mt. Fuji. Karigane is made specifically from Gyokuro (shade-grown) plants. It consists primarily of stems, but also includes some leaf material. “Kari” means “wild goose”. The tea is named for the shape of the stem, which mirrors a stick that a bird would rest on. During processing, the tea leaves are shaken and blown through a high-tech machine with over 700 cameras in a line that can sort the leaves by color (the leaves must go through this process twice). Otsuka deliberately includes the lighter-colored stems to create contrast in the finished product.
