{"title":"Black Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWa\u003c\/em\u003e means \"Japan\" and \u003cem\u003ekoucha\u003c\/em\u003e means \"red tea\" in Japanese. In countries such as China and Japan, what we call \"black tea\" is called \"red tea\"\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e Den’s Tea is proud to carry Japanese black tea because it makes up less than 1% of the entire tea production in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[***]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/red-tea-history_76009d88-701c-4836-bb6a-1824cecb75e1_160x160.jpg?v=1613504782\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eEarly in the Meiji era (1868 - 1912), green tea was one of Japan's main exports, with most of the green tea being sent to the United States. The Meiji government was anticipating that black tea would be the next major resource to export because of the large demand for it in other western countries. The government sent Motokichi Tada to India for ten years to learn about the production of black tea. When Motokichi returned to Japan, he shared his knowledge with several tea production areas. Mariko in Shizuoka was one of them. It is now considered the center of Japanese black tea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eUnique Production Process\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/red-tea-production-process_7ad79803-6893-484d-918a-e1f1cb8e510e_160x160.jpg?v=1613504832\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIn green tea production, tea leaves are quickly brought to the factory after picking to be heated. In contrast, tea leaves for black tea sit for half a day for wilting. In this process, moisture in the leaves is greatly reduced and the unique fragrance and flavor of black tea starts to evolve. The other process that green tea does not have is oxidation. For black tea, there is a special container which controls both temperature and moisture. This causes the tea leaves to oxidize and ferment slightly, further enhancing the unique fragrance of black tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/20250423-060_2_6168dc31-e6fd-4f28-bc61-69e9af11903d.jpg?v=1745872163\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Producer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;\" alt=\"black tea producer\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/red-tea-producer_3bd8ae28-f928-4a9e-b85e-72ae21510dfb_160x160.jpg?v=1613504909\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eNiroku Muramatsu was born and raised in Mariko and learned about Motokichi at a very early age. He grew up wanting to be part of black tea history and production in Japan and this brought him to black tea production with a passion. During his production career, he invented his own storage container for oxidation and fermentation and even acquired patents for them. With his passion for black tea and the use of his special equipment, his tea has a high quality color, aroma and taste. He is also particular to organic growing; however, the tea has not been certified as organic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/20250423-051_2.jpg?v=1745872066\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDen's Tasting Comments\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-left: 10px; float: right;\" alt=\"tea tasting\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/red-tea-tasting_0539d471-046d-45bd-a2f4-2c2e9dab257e_160x160.jpg?v=1613504997\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDrinking Wakoucha Mariko can be quite a calming experience, unlike the strong, rising flavors of the three major black teas (Darjeeling, Uva and Keemun). Yet, I like it and was never bored with it. It is a good tea to enjoy with meals such as sushi and other Japanese foods. Maybe I feel this way because it is made in Japan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIt also has elegant and gentle qualities which embrace my body and soul. This tea has helped me return to a calm state of mind many times. It makes me think that, if Japan had been introduced to and produced this kind of black tea 1000 years ago, it would be used for Zen training by Buddhist monks like matcha.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"wakoucha-mariko","title":"Wakoucha Mariko","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis tea is called Wakoucha Mariko. \u003cem\u003eWa\u003c\/em\u003e means \"Japan\" and \u003cem\u003ekoucha\u003c\/em\u003e means \"red tea\" in Japanese. Though, in the West, we might call this a black tea, in Japan black tea is called \"red tea\" because of its color. Hence the name, \"koucha\". \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wakoucha is produced in the Mariko area in Shizuoka where Japanese black tea history and production began over 100 years ago. While Wakoucha Mariko is not only rare, it also has an elegant flavor that many black teas produced in other countries don't have. It is good as a straight tea or with milk.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrigin: Mariko, Shizuoka \u003cbr\u003eHarvest: First Flush \u003cbr\u003eSpecies: Benifuki\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElegant and calm, mild bodied, very fragrant and smooth. It has surprisingly less bitterness and astringency compared to many other red teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDen's Preferred Brewing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeaf-water ratio: 2-3 g (~1 tsp)\/4 oz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWater: Boiled; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteep: 3 min.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e2nd Steep\u003c\/span\u003e Water: Boiled; Steep 1.5 min\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Den's Tea","offers":[{"title":"2 oz (56 g)","offer_id":47527559495895,"sku":"4601","price":20.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1 lb (454 g)","offer_id":37504749371550,"sku":"4602","price":153.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/products\/wakocha-mariko2019.jpg?v=1756840440"},{"product_id":"oxidation-comparison-set","title":"Oxidation Comparison Set","description":"\u003cp\u003eEver wondered what the deal is with \"green tea\" and \"black tea\"? What really is the difference between these two categories? This comparison set seeks to help us experience the differences between these categories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fundamental difference between them is the amount of oxidation they go through. Black tea and green tea both come from the same plant but are processed in different ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the tea leaves are initially picked, the oxidation process has begun. The cell walls of the tea plant have begun to mix with the surrounding oxygen, and the catechins in the tea turn into flavanoids. The chlorophylls in the leaves (that gives them their green color) turn into pheophytins and pheophorbides, which can give the leaves a brownish-red color. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen cupping these teas side-by-side, the differences in aroma, flavor, and color are obvious. We found that the Gyokuro Kin has an enjoyable umami mouthfeel and marine-like flavor that then progressively turns into bitterness and astringency. The wakoucha has gone though much more oxidation, and has a sweeter flavor and flowery aroma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are looking forward to hearing your feedback regarding these teas and how they differ!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis set includes one ounce of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/denstea.com\/collections\/gyokuro-green-tea\/products\/gyokuro-kin\"\u003eGyokuro Kin\u003c\/a\u003e and one ounce of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/denstea.com\/collections\/japanese-black-tea\/products\/wakoucha-mariko\"\u003eWakoucha Mariko\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Den's Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48318654808279,"sku":null,"price":18.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/files\/20260225-004.jpg?v=1772215944"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0529\/3909\/6222\/collections\/ca9b3147f6244bd88481963b4c9ff354.jpg?v=1745871028","url":"https:\/\/denstea.com\/collections\/japanese-black-tea.oembed","provider":"Den's Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}