Wazuka Pine Needle Wakoucha

CHARACTERISTICS: Cultivar: Yabukita Harvest: First HarvestOrigin: Wazuka, Kyoto, Japan  Sourcing: Farm Direct Farmer: Akki San  Experience the exceptional craftsmanship of Pine Needle Wakoucha, a premium Japanese black tea featuring distinctive needle-shaped leaves. This medium-bodied specialty tea offers a unique flavor journey with lightly savory notes, subtle astringency, and rich molasses undertones that set it apart from conventional black teas. What is Wakoucha? Understanding Japanese Black Tea Wakoucha (和紅茶) translates to "Japanese black tea" – a rare gem in Japan's tea tradition. While Japanese green tea has centuries of heritage, black tea production only began 150 years ago during the Meiji period, when Japan opened its doors to global trade. Why "Red Tea"? The term "Koucha" means "red tea," named for the distinctive dark red hue that appears when brewed. This beautiful copper-red color is intensified by Japan's naturally soft water, which contains minimal lime content –