Kohei - A Japanese Health Green Tea
An organic GABA-rich tea that soothes body and mind by lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. Sweet, with spicy and citrus notes.
The drawing on the bag represents Takahashi san and his mother who leads family business alongside him.
Health-oriented tea KOHEI is an organic green tea grown and processed by Takahashi san in Oita to increase its levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a natural component of green tea.
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter also found in human bodies. Its main role is to reduce neuronal excitability. Research has shown that GABA contributes to preventing high blood pressure, helps with sleep disorders, and reduces stress and anxiety.
Thanks to the combination of GABA with other healthy nutrients specific to tea such as l-theanine and other polyphenols, GABA-rich tea has a deeper impact than regular green tea on chronic stress-induced autonomic imbalance, and related risks for cardiovascular disease (see examples of recent studies published here, here and here).
KOHEI greets you with a delicious gingerbread aroma when you first open its bag. Its beautiful pale golden liquor is sweet, refreshing, easy to drink, with hints of cinnamon and citrus notes and leaves a pleasant bitterness on the tongue. Its positive impact on sleep disorders and low levels of caffeine make it a great late afternoon or early evening tea.
Established in 1963, the Takahashi green tea factory is located in Usuki (Oita pref., Eastern Kyushu) and produces organic green tea since 2001. It was the first green tea farm in Oita to receive the organic JAS certification in 2001.
Takahashi san is now the second generation of his family to lead his business and is specialized in tamaryokucha, a green tea known for its jade color (tama), quite similar to sencha, but whose leaves have a curly shape, and not needle-like. The very last stage of the processing method is different: the tea leaves are put inside drums and dried with hot air.
Takahashi san grows seven different tea cultivars, mainly Yabukita.
Brewing (Japanese Method)
Tea for 2 - 4g / 0.14 oz
Water
150ml / ~5 fl oz
Temperature
70C-80C / 158-176F
Time
45s - 60s
Brewing (Kyushi Wellness Method)
Tea for 2 - 8g / 0.14 oz
Water
250ml
Temperature
70C-80C / 158-176F
Time
45s - 60s
We recommend a large mesh tea strainer like this one or a teapot.
If you don’t have a temperature controlled kettle similar to this one, pour cold water onto the leaves prior to pouring boiling water on top almost 30:70 cold to hot water for your first brew to get the very most out of this beautiful tea.
Net Weight: 50g
Harvest: 2023
Origin: 100% Japanese tea from Oita
Quality and type: High-Grade GABA Green Tea
Organic: Yes JAS
Cultivars: Yutakamidori, Yamanami, Okuyutaka, Okumidori
Conservation: 1 year unopened
Optimal tasting: within 6 weeks after opening