What is the "demono" of tea? ~The appeal of kukicha and konacha~

Introduction

In the process of making high-quality teas such as Sencha and Gyokuro, there is a by-product called "demono" that is produced during the sorting of tea leaves.

These include powder, float, and stem, and these are never thrown away; they are an important part of the tea.

It is used as an ingredient to bring out new appeal of tea.

Kukicha and Konacha: The Charms of Each

Kukicha is made from the stems of Sencha and Gyokuro tea. It is also called Bocha and is characterized by its whitish appearance and refreshing taste. In particular, the collected stems of Gyokuro tea are called "Karigane" and have an elegant aroma.

Kukicha is rich in the amino acid theanine and has a strong umami flavor.

Powdered tea is made when the leaves are crushed into a powder during the tea processing process. It contains young buds and cores, so if you get a good one, it can be surprisingly delicious.

Powdered tea is easy to drink and is available in tea bags and for use in tea dispensers, and is also popular as an "agari" (a sweet broth) served at the end of a meal in sushi restaurants.

Value and potential of the item

Although demono is cheaper than premium teas such as sencha and gyokuro, it is by no means inferior in quality.

In fact, theanine, which accounts for about 50% of the amino acids in tea, is found in greater amounts in the stems than in the leaves.

If we only consider the taste, the stems with more theanine are more delicious and have better cost performance. It is an attractive tea with a unique flavor and nutritional value.

summary

Tea "dregs" are by-products produced during the process of making Sencha and Gyokuro, but they are by no means low in flavor or nutritional value.

There are many different types, such as kukicha and powdered tea, and each has its own appeal.

By making effective use of the offerings, more people will be able to expand the ways in which they can enjoy tea.