The process of making Sencha is a 5-step process,

1. Steaming
2. Cooling while Drying
3. Shaping
4. Sorting leaves and stems, and
5. Drying

The “Farmers blend”, otherwise known as Sobokucha (simple tea) and/or Aracha (or rough tea), skips step 4 and 5, and is what many of the tea farmers drink.  Why do tea farmers drink Sobokucha?  The reason is simple.  This is as far as a tea will be processed before the tea blenders blend it, and is the only way you will know the full potential of the leaf.  So, how does a farmer enjoy the tea leaves that he made?  Sobokucha is the answer.

Japanese tea for tea farmers

Sobokucha is a bold tea.  It includes both the stem and the leaf, has down to earth natural flavor, and is quite different compared to anything else out there.

This tea is very casual, and is favored by those who like the simplicity and the bold harmony that Sobokucha offers.  Perfect for everyday drinking, and is often favorited by die hard tea lovers.

Amount: 160g (5.64oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Genmaicha, sometimes known as “popcorn tea” is a blend between green tea and roasted and popped rice.  It is a perfect breakfast tea, and is often favored for later in the evening because of its mellow, yet toasty flavor.

Our Genmaicha with Gyokuro brings a unique quality to Genmaicha, which is usually based off of Sencha.  The Gyokuro added to the mix brings the sweetness into the picture, enhancing the aroma and flavor of the roasted grains.  This tea is full flavored with a wonderful aroma, and is as smooth as silk.

Genmaicha & Gyokuro Japanese Tea Blend

Traditionally, Genmaicha was considered to be a “poor man’s tea”.  The puffed rice was used as a “filler” to keep the price down.  Often made with nibancha or sanbancha (2nd and 3rd harvest teas), it is still considered by many to be a “cheap tea”.  However, all Genmaicha’s at Matabay are made from first flush tea leaves, which add a splendid freshness to the mix, and is a favorite amongst those who love Gemnaicha for its flavor and aroma.

Amount: 100g (3.52oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Genmaicha, sometimes known as “popcorn tea” is a blend between green tea and roasted and popped rice.  It is a perfect breakfast tea, and is often favored for later in the evening because of its mellow, yet toasty flavor.

Amazing Blended Tea with Genmaicha

Our Genmaicha with Matcha is an amazing blend, in where the Sencha leaves are lightly coated with Matcha, giving the blend a silky smoothness, deepness, and a mellowness that surpasses that of other Genmaicha.  This as a well balanced full-bodied tea, and due to the Matcha, the color is more green than yellow.

Traditionally, Genmaicha was considered to be a “poor man’s tea”.  The puffed rice was used as a “filler” to keep the price down.  Often made with nibancha or sanbancha (2nd and 3rd harvest teas), it is still considered by many to be a “cheap tea”.  However, all Genmaicha’s at Matabay are made from first flush tealeaves, which add a splendid freshness to the mix, and is a favorite amongst those who love Gemnaicha for its flavor and aroma.

Amount: 200g (7.05oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Genmaicha, sometimes known as “popcorn tea” is a blend between green tea and roasted and popped rice.  It is a perfect breakfast tea, and is often favored for later in the evening because of its mellow, yet toasty flavor.

Our Genmaicha with Sencha uses the higher grade Sencha leaves, and adds a well-balanced freshness to the rich and hearty flavor and aroma of roasted grains.

A Japanese Tea for any occasion Genmaicha

This is an everyday tea that can be enjoyed at almost any .  It is a favorite tea for many, especially for those who find regular green tea too “grassy”.  The flavor is mellow, and is very smooth.

Traditionally, Genmaicha was considered to be a “poor man’s tea”.  The puffed rice was used as a “filler” to keep the price down.  Often made with nibancha or sanbancha (2nd and 3rd harvest teas), it is still considered by many to be a “cheap tea”.  However, all Genmaicha’s at Matabay are made from first flush tea leaves, which add a splendid freshness to the mix, and is a favorite amongst those who love Gemnaicha for its flavor and aroma.

Amount: 200g (7.05oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

 Genmaicha, sometimes known as “popcorn tea” is a blend between green tea and roasted and popped rice.  It is a perfect breakfast tea, and is often favored for later in the evening because of its mellow, yet toasty flavor.

For the “pure” Genmaicha fans, we would like to offer a Genmaicha that was blended to fully explore the toasty flavor and aroma of roasted grain.  This highly aromatic Genmaicha is very straight forward, well balanced, and was blended and roasted to satisfy even the most die hard Genmaicha fans,

Genmaicha Superior Japanese Tea

Traditionally, Genmaicha was considered to be a “poor man’s tea”.  The puffed rice was used as a “filler” to keep the price down.  Often made with nibancha or sanbancha (2nd and 3rd harvest teas), it is still considered by many to be a “cheap tea”.  However, all Genmaicha’s at Matabay are made from first flush tea leaves, which add a splendid freshness to the mix, and is a favorite amongst those who love Gemnaicha for its flavor and aroma.

Amount: 200g (7.05oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Hojicha, is roasted Japanese tea.  Hojicha (also spelled Houjicha), is refreshing, toasty, nutty, earthy and somewhat caramelly and at times smoky, and is one of the most favored teas for after a meal.  The caffeine  is the lowest out of all Japanese teas, and is considered suitable for even small children, or for drinking a late night cup of tea.

Hojicha with a Refreshing After Taste

Our super premium grade Hojicha, is a blast of freshness. Only using first pick tea and lightly roasted, this Hojicha can be placed in its own category of magical tea.  The toasty/nutty aroma adds to the slightly sweet and carmelly flavor, and creates an amazingly refreshing after taste.  The super premium grade Hojicha also only uses the finest of tea leaves specially made for this amazing Hojicha, and is blended with select Matcha stems for the aroma.

The color of Hojicha, is a deep amber and not green like most Japanese teas.

Every day Japanese Tea Hojicha

This is an every day tea, highly recommended for after meals, or as a “nightcap tea” before you go to bed.

At Matabay, in order to keep your Hojicha at the freshest possible state, we have packaged the leaves in small amounts.  This way, each bag of Hojicha you open, is a blast of freshness to the very last drop!

Amount: 80g (2.82oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Kabuse tea, is almost a cross between Sencha and Gyokuro.  Kabuse tea is technically a “shaded” tea.  The tea trees are covered 2 weeks or so before  time using hay (traditionally), or a dark mesh sheet, creating a beautiful balance between Sencha and Gyokuro.

Kabuse Tea a Combined Quality

Kabuse tea is a wonderful tea that has the combined qualities of 2 of the finest teas of Japan, has a slight hint of fresh grassiness found in Sencha, but also has the deep mellowness and sweetness found in Gyokuro.  Although considered a lower grade tea compared to Gyokuro, many tea fans go straight for Kabuse tea to get the best of both worlds in one cup, and it is a favored tea by many!

Our Kabuse tea is a treat to your taste buds, and is great for an every day tea.

Amount: 100g (3.52oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

Konacha is a by-product that is born from the processing of Japanese tea. Although not a fine powder like Matcha, Konacha is made of the tea dust and tea flakes that fall off the leaf while processing the teas.  Due to the fact that Konacha is composed of tea dust and small flakes, the tea is quickly absorbed into the hot water, and is what is used in most Sushi restaurants.

Sweet and Mellow Kabuse Konacha

Our Kabuse Konacha uses Kabuse (shaded) leaves, and has a sweet and mellow flavor.  Being Konacha, the tea is strong and bold, rich in flavor, and full of all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrition that you find in green tea.

The reason this tea is favored in the Sushi restaurants, is because of its super quick brew time, its easy handling, and because of its refreshing, yet strong flavor that  in preparation for the next sushi.

Cheaper than Full Tea Leaves

Due to the fact that this tea is a by-product, it is considerably cheaper than the full leaves, yet is often easier to find good konacha than it is to find good full leaf teas.

The only drawback is that the entire flavor is “used up” in the first infusion, and it leaves very little left for a second or third infusion.  On the other hand, all the goodness is packed into the first infusion so is great for tea on the go!

Amount: 200g (7.04oz)
Container: Matabay Bag

 Houjicha, is roasted Japanese tea.  Houjicha (also spelled Hojicha), is refreshing, toasty, nutty, earthy and somewhat caramelly and at times smoky, and is one of the most favored teas for after a meal.  The caffeine quantity is the lowest out of all Japanese teas, and is considered suitable for even small children, or for drinking a late night cup of tea.  Karigane Houjicha, is Houjicha made especially from the stems, meaning they are high in Theanin.

Karigane Houjicha with Amazing Aroma

Our Karigane Houjicha not only has an amazingly nutty aroma, but also has a mellow sweetness, which makes it an outstanding tea, with a different kind of magic then other Houjicha.

This tea is an everyday tea, which is great to drink after meals or late at night, tastes great as an Iced tea, and also is used in making Houjicha latte, and also great for cooking.

Fresh Tasting Tea Quality

At Matabay, in order to keep your Houjicha at the freshest possible state, we have packaged the tea leaves in small amounts.  This way, each bag of Houjicha you open, is a blast of freshness to the very last drop!

Amount: 80g (2.82oz)
Container: Matabay Bag