Blog Charaku

Charaku is pleased to present two new Houji-cha tea (roasted green tea) products.
Apart from Sencha, Houji-cha is another popular kind of green tea in Japan. Tea leaves for producing Houji-cha are usually late-harvested leaves or twigs. Compared to other kind of Japanese green teas, Houji-cha is dried at a high temperature and roasted on a charcoal fire, therefore it is characterised by its unique roast-aroma and its red-brown infusion. Because Houji-cha contains a low amount of catechin, it is no astringent but has a soothing taste. Houji-cha is especially favoured as an after-dinner drink in Japan.

Super Premium Houji-Cha
This tea is produced in Kyoto-Uji using Sencha tea leaves harvested in Watsuka and Asamiya (Kyoto). This is a super premium quality Houji-cha with strong roast aroma. Its superb aroma and fine taste has won this tea a fine reputation and it has been used for serving customers in famous and traditional Japanese style hotels and restaurants in Kyoto.

Premium Houji-cha
Produced in Kyoto-Uji. It has a very nice roasted aroma with a mild nutty flavour. This tea is suitable for a summer drink too, being chilled in fridge after brewing.

We’re so confident that you will enjoy and benefit from our Charaku Organic Sencha that we will happily mail you a 7gm sample package Free of Charge.

Simply email us at info@tea-charaku.com including your name and mailing address and expect to receive your Charaku Organic Sencha within 14 days. If you feel a family member or friend may like to try our tea you can add their mailing address too.

There is sufficient evidence that Japanese Green Tea is good for your health (see Health Benifit ) and claims it prevents some forms of cancer (see Charaku blog March 31 2009 'Green Tea and Cancer Research').

Personally I think that Japanese Green Tea stands on its merits as a very pleasant beverage to relax with. However, I can report my own weight loss achievement of 10kgs in 3 months. How? First you have to want to lose weight and be serious about it. I started by substituting my evening relaxation with a fine Australian Shiraz or Cab. Sav., with a cup of Sencha or Gyokuro, this was easier to do than I thought. Then I doubled my walks with the dog (an American Cocker named ‘Rooney’), and guess what? As you begin to feel the weight loss, the walks become enjoyable. I substituted cookies and chocolate for fruit. Finally, I upped my interest in gardening, the gentlest of all exercise. Persistence is the key. The immediate effect was dramatic, about two kilos in a week, then there was a lull for 2-3 weeks which sets one wondering but soon the weight started to drip off again. The feeling of well-being is worth the small sacrifices I can vouch for that.

There’s a quaintness about Sapporo that takes me back to my childhood in Kent (now suburban London), 55 years ago. It’s a comfort zone that’s delightful to revisit and a reminder of how community pride and concern, home grown produce (a war time legacy when I was a kid), for the family and sharing with neighbours and the consequent slow cooking improves one’s wellbeing.

In our street the young mum’s seem happy to be working at home, maybe a luxury in this modern world because house prices are affordable to pay off on a single income here. Cars are driven with caution allowing children to play in the road with confidence; tiny tots walk to school unescorted without fear and seniors are active in their gardens, taking a stroll or enjoying their cross between ‘pitch and put' and putting golf-like game. In essence the streets are alive and therefore, safe. In nearly a year of living here now I’ve not witnessed an act of vandalism; seen a drunk or had hoons dropping ‘wheelies’ on the street in the early hours of the morning.

Apart from the home grown food Sapporo benefits from a rich volcanic soil, it’s still host to dormant volcanoes and frequent earth tremors (you seldom feel them and get used to the TV. announcements); subsequently agriculture is evident on a massive scale. On my now regular summer drives into the country I’ve witnessed onions, melons (in hot houses), rice, asparagus and potatoes on farms stretching as far as the eye can see. Fish and other seafood are plentiful and cheap here too.











Yesterday we visited Kyogoku park which sits on the foothills of Yotiezan (Hokkaido’s Mt Fuji), and hosts a magnificent spring. The water is fast running, cold, pure and sweet. The authorities of this beautiful park have been thoughtful enough to supply mugs for visitors to capture a taste from the water cascading through wooden pipes running adjacent to a waterfall.
Peace of mind, Japanese Green Tea and a healthy diet have improved this scribe’s life immensely. Thanks Sapporo.