{"product_id":"twig-treasure-furukawas-tencha-bo-cha","title":"TWIG TREASURE | Furukawa's Hone Cha","description":"\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA MOST SATISFYING TEA CREATED WITH THE STEMS FROM TOP GRADE TENCHA.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003eHone-cha (骨茶) is literally translated as “bone tea”; it is made from the the stems and structural veins separated from tencha before it is ground into matcha. Because these “twigs” come from the same carefully shaded, high-quality plants, they can produce a surprisingly delicious brew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003eThis year we asked Furukawa San to keep the stems from the three lots of outstanding tencha that we purchased from his family. These vibrant hone cha is the outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting experience:\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTenmyo - \u003c\/strong\u003eA gentle bitterness reminiscent of ginkgo leaves, with a rich, full-bodied character. Subtle umami and a delicate savory salinity add depth to the finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOkumidori - \u003c\/strong\u003eFresh, herbaceous notes of green foliage unfold with a mellow sweetness reminiscent of sugarcane. Like a soothing Japanese herbal tea, it evokes the quiet beauty and serenity of the Japanese countryside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSamidori - \u003c\/strong\u003eA delicate, understated salinity, light and airy like a passing breeze, with a subtle hint of sea breeze and oceanic freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eOrigin: Joyo, Kyoto, Japan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eGPS: \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e34.82° N, 135.79° E\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCultivars:\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSamidori (さみどり)\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of Kyoto’s most celebrated traditional tea cultivars, prized for its refined umami, gentle sweetness, and vivid green colour. Especially renowned for tencha and gyokuro, it produces matcha of remarkable elegance and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTenmyō (てんみょう \/ 天妙)\u003c\/strong\u003e is a rare Kyoto tea cultivar valued for its distinctive character and limited production. Little encountered outside specialist Japanese tea circles, it offers a fascinating expression of Kyoto’s deep culture of cultivar selection and fine tea craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOkumidori (おくみどり)\u003c\/strong\u003e is a highly regarded Japanese cultivar known for its deep green colour, smooth texture, balanced umami, and restrained astringency. Its name evokes a “deep green,” qualities that have made it particularly desirable for premium shaded teas and matcha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Guide:\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTea: 2g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWater: 240ml @ 100°C\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTime: 3 minutes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"entry-content-header\"\u003eAbout The Growers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Furukawas are some of of the coolest young tea growers who are breathing new life into the fascinating craft of shade grown teas. They are based in Jōyō (城陽), Kyoto, within the Uji tea region. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2059\/0699\/files\/IMG_9493.jpg?v=1787349720\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurukawa is an excellent example of the blending of old traditions and 21st century solutions. His matcha and gyokuro are shaded with a canopy of hay, known as  komo-shita saibai (菰下栽培). This is a very labour and capital intensive process that yields spectacular results in terms of flavour. On the other hand, Furukawa San was one of the earliest adopters of drones to manage his tea fields; in 2026, he was selected by the Kyoto Tea Academy to share his knowledge with other local growers.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat relationship between tradition and experimentation runs deeper in the Furukawa story. The family's roots in Jōyō extend beyond tea into \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esake \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethrough \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJōyō Shuzō (城陽酒造・じょうようしゅぞう)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the small local brewery founded in 1895. I you find yourself in this reagion, please pop by the brewery and try everything.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"O5 TEA","offers":[{"title":"Samidori 100g","offer_id":52879242658103,"sku":null,"price":27.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Samidori 500g","offer_id":52879302394167,"sku":null,"price":210.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Okumidori 100g","offer_id":52879304196407,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Okumidori 500g","offer_id":52879304425783,"sku":null,"price":200.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Tenmyo 100g","offer_id":52879304556855,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Tenmyo 500g","offer_id":52879304884535,"sku":null,"price":200.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2059\/0699\/files\/IMG_0571.jpg?v=1787349887","url":"https:\/\/www.o5tea.com\/products\/twig-treasure-furukawas-tencha-bo-cha","provider":"O5 RARE TEA BAR","version":"1.0","type":"link"}