Traditional Tea ｜ Gentle Tea from Japanese Native Herbs

Traditional Tea Series Discovered on a Journey Through Japan

{tabel} is a brand of traditional Japanese tea made from wild herbs encountered during travels across Japan. We work with local communities to transform herbs, mainly indigenous Japanese varieties grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers during the cultivation period, into high-quality tea.

All of our teas have a natural, gentle flavor and are caffeine-free, making them perfect for a relaxing moment.

Choose a cup that suits your mood for the day, such as "Yamato Toki Tea" to warm you up on a cold day, or "Gettou Tea" when you want to feel refreshed.

Four Traditional Teas for Everyday Life

① Mellow and Gentle "Yatsushiro's Ancient Japanese Lotus Leaf Tea"

This tea features a mellow sweetness and an elegant fragrance reminiscent of osmanthus, made from indigenous lotus leaves from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. A gentle sweetness spreads delicately in your mouth, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

While about 90% of lotus cultivated in Japan today are said to be non-native species, indigenous Japanese lotus are carefully grown in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto.

Cultivation is labor-intensive and the leaves are small, but they boast a rich and concentrated flavor.

The roasting method has also been devised to ensure that it tastes delicious even after a second brewing. By finely adjusting the temperature and time, the tea retains the original flavor of the lotus leaves and can be enjoyed multiple times.

It's a tea with a gentle aroma that accompanies you at the end of the day.

② Citrus-Scented, Exotic Flavor "Ishigaki Island's Fragrant Gettou Tea"

Gettou tea, with its exotic, tropical taste, has a unique aroma that is lightly floral with a hint of spice.

While not very familiar in regions north of Kyushu, gettou (shell ginger), a member of the ginger family, is a plant deeply intertwined with daily life in the southern Kagoshima and Okinawa regions. It has long been used for tea and as wrappers for local sweets like "Moochie" (oni-mochi), cherished in various aspects of daily life.

Gettou from Ishigaki Island, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, is hand-roasted by farmers dedicated to researching and preserving indigenous species. By finely adjusting the roasting temperature and time, the original aroma of gettou is maximized, resulting in a mellow and easy-to-drink tea.

You can enjoy it during your holiday tea time, envisioning a tropical island.

③ Refreshing and Light "Amami's Breezy, Tropical Guava Tea"

Guava tea, with its tropical fruitiness and just the right amount of acidity, evokes images of a brilliant summer. With a bright aroma and smooth taste, it's a comforting companion for tea time in warmer seasons.

Please enjoy the refreshing flavor unique to guava leaves.

Guava leaves grown in Amami's rich soil are carefully hand-picked one by one by the island's mothers under the harsh sunlight. Harvesting, which requires judging the condition of each leaf and is difficult for machines, demands skilled techniques and experience. The tea is finished with the desire to "deliver truly delicious products."

Guava tea, filled with the blessings of Amami's nature and the warm feelings of its people. Why not incorporate a cup that evokes a tropical breeze into your daily life?

④ Subtle Sweetness "Nara Takatori's Yamato Toki Tea, Accompanied by Winter"

"Toki" (Angelica acutiloba) may not be a familiar name, but Yamato Toki is an indigenous Japanese plant of the parsley family.

Cultivating it without pesticides requires over two years of diligently removing insects! This persistent, painstaking work yields high quality.

The toki tea, born from this time-consuming effort, features a hint of sweetness within its bitterness and a celery-like flavor. While its aroma is slightly distinctive, it's a deep-flavored tea that many find addictive once they try it.

It's perfect for when you want to relax and unwind. We also recommend arranging it by adding grated ginger. The spiciness of ginger harmonizes with the toki's flavor, allowing you to enjoy a different taste. Popular variations also include adding a little honey for sweetness or squeezing in lemon for a refreshing touch.

Delicious Ways to Brew Traditional Tea

Here are three recommended brewing methods to suit the tea's character and your mood for the day. Please enjoy their distinct flavors.

〈Hot Brew〉

Place one tea bag in about 150cc of hot water, cover the pot, and steep for 3-4 minutes. This is the most standard and convenient method, perfect for busy mornings or when you want to drink it quickly. Covering the pot traps the rising aroma, allowing you to enjoy a richer flavor.

〈Cold Brew〉

Place one tea bag in 300cc of water and steep for at least 6 hours. Store in the refrigerator during warmer months. This method results in a milder flavor.

Cold brewing, which involves steeping slowly over time, tends to reduce astringency and bitterness, bringing out the natural sweetness and mellowness of the tea. It's refreshing and perfect for cooling down in hot weather. If you prepare it before bed, you'll have delicious cold tea ready the next morning.

〈Simmering〉

If you have time, we highly recommend simmering. Place one tea bag in 500-600cc of water and simmer over low heat for about 15-20 minutes.

Simmering slowly over low heat creates a deep and rich flavor. The aroma becomes even more abundant, allowing you to feel the true strength of the tea. Enjoy the tea's fragrance as it fills the room.

This method is recommended for relaxing holidays or special tea times.