Karigane is kukicha made from the good stems — those separated from gyokuro and high-grade sencha rather than everyday leaf. Because the parent plants were shade-grown, it is rounder and more umami-rich than ordinary twig tea.
Karigane is kukicha made from the good stems — those separated from gyokuro or high-grade sencha rather than from everyday leaf. Because the parent plants were shade-grown, the stems carry that same theanine sweetness, and the cup is noticeably rounder and more umami-rich than ordinary twig tea. In Kyoto it is also known as shiraore, and it has long been the tea drinkers' own tea: modest by weight next to gyokuro, but made from the same material. Brew it cooler than kukicha to keep the sweetness forward, and give it two or three infusions. It is low enough in caffeine to drink right through the afternoon.
How it is grown and made, how it tastes, and how to brew it.
Tea Type
Green tea
Processing
Stems separated from gyokuro or high-grade sencha, then steamed and dried.
Taste
Vegetal, fruity, rounded sweetness
Caffeine
~22 mg per serving (5 g)
Shading
About 3 weeks — the parent plants are shade-grown
Leaf Composition
Stems from gyokuro and high-grade sencha
Water Temperature
60°C (140°F)
Brewing Time
2 minutes
Number of Infusions
3
How to Make Karigane Like a Pro
Brew karigane cooler than kukicha to keep the sweetness forward — the stems come from shade-grown plants, and a lower temperature is what draws that out. Higher temperatures may lead to bitterness.
Heat the Water
Heat water to 60°C (140°F).
Add the Leaves
Add 5 g of leaves to a kyusu teapot.
Steep
Pour 150 ml of water and steep for 2 minutes.
Pour & Brew Again
Pour out every drop, then brew the same leaves 2 more times (20 seconds each).
Caffeine Level in Karigane
~22 mg per serving (5 g)
How Karigane Is Made
From the field to the finished leaf, the five steps behind every batch.
Shade Grown Tea Leaves
20+ Days
1st Harvest
Spring
Steamed and Dried
Stems Separated from Gyokuro Leaf
Graded and Blended
Why Organic Karigane Fields Make a Difference
Tea plants absorb everything from the soil, making pesticide-free farming especially important. The farmers we work with have found a way to grow delicious tea without harming the natural ecosystem.
ORGANIC
NON-ORGANIC
Why Buy Your Tea from Nio Teas
No middlemen, no pesticides, no risk.
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Try it with confidence. If it isn’t right for you, contact us within 30 days.
Nio teas has been my favourite place to purchase good quality teas for a while now, and still they never disappoint me. Their teas are excellent quality, however, I’d like to give more attention to customer service - Nio team has been very kind and helpful each time I had any sort of problem. Their customer service never disappoints, they are very attentive and quick in responding to any queries, hence why I’ve been a loyal customer for a while now.
Apr 1, 2026
5 out of 5 stars
5/5
Sean
My favorite vendor for Japanese organic loose leaf green teas. They are sourcing some of the best organic teas out of Japan and supporting family farmers and the growing organic tea industry as a whole. I have ordered from every vendor for years and Nio consistently has the best prices and selection overall. They provide top notch customer service and fast shipping as well. Highly recommended 🍃
Shipping is free once your order passes the threshold for your country — USD 54.99 · EUR 54.99 · GBP 44.99 · CHF 49.99 · CAD 74.99 · DKK 399 · SEK 599 · PLN 229 · CZK 1,290. Everywhere else it's the equivalent of USD 54.99, converted automatically. Below the threshold a flat rate applies, always shown at checkout before you pay.
We ship from warehouses in the US, the EU and Japan — whichever is closest to you. US and EU orders arrive in 4–12 business days; the handful of countries served from Japan take around 10. Business days count from dispatch rather than from when you order, and exclude weekends and public holidays. You'll get a tracking number by email the moment your parcel leaves the warehouse.
We only buy from fields grown without pesticides or chemicals. We ask each farmer directly how they manage their land, visit the plantation and processing facility ourselves, taste every harvest before committing, and check that the biodiversity around the fields is alive. Small family farms don't always carry paperwork — so we verify it in person instead.
Japanese green tea covers an enormous range, and choosing online isn't easy. If you've tried yours and it isn't for you, email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a line on what you didn't enjoy. We'll send a different tea of equal or lower value, free. Nothing to post back — keep it, share it, or try brewing it cooler. Once per order.
Email info@nioteas.com within 30 days with your order number and a photo. We'll approve it, cover the return postage with a prepaid label or a reimbursement, and refund you — no restocking fee. Refunds go to your original payment method within 2 business days of the return reaching us; your bank may take another 5–20 to show it.
Unopened items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days. Tea is sealed for hygiene, so opened packs can't come back — but the swap above covers exactly that situation. Return postage is yours unless the item arrived damaged, defective or incorrect.
Orders to the US and EU ship domestically from our local warehouse, so there's no customs charge and no duty. A small number of destinations are served from our Japan warehouse, where your own customs authority may apply import duty, VAT or a carrier handling fee on delivery. Those are set by your country, not by us. Ask before you order and we'll help you check.
