Kishuen is a specialty tea shop mainly oriented to local preference in Aizu Wakamatsu city. This long-established tea shop has provided local people and tourists with originally blended teas since the end of Meiji period.
Based on my opinion, the relatively strong roasted teas would suit for the preference of local peoples. Their significance on local society would be indicated in their original teas blended with local products such as Genmai roasted rice and roasted black soy produced in Aizu region.
Soba Hoji Genmaicha “Ocharaka Hoi” – Sencha blended with roasted Genmai rice and roasted “Soba” buckwheat.
Genmai rice and Soba buckwheat are both produced in Aizu region, indicating the significance of owner on local products and terroir. I love their sincere works expressing Aizu spirits in their teas.
The appearance of the special Sencha blended with roasted Genmai rice and Soba buckwheat. We can enjoy the toasty and nutty aroma derived from roasted Genmai rice and buckwheat.
The mission statement of Kishuen is expressing the mind of Aizu people in their teas, according to the web page of Kishuen. They recognize the Aizu people are mentally strong and gentle. Indeed, strong roast indicates the strength of its crude tea and the delicate mellowness could express the kindness of local people in Aizu region.
In addition, Kishuen serves “Tea To Go” for those who bring their my bottle to the shop. The staff brews one of teas lined up on the shop, which we can choose, using Kyusu apparatus in front of us.
The staff of Kishuen kindly brews specialty tea for “Tea To Go” using Kyusu tea pot.
The staff kindly showed the appearance of Sencha for “Tea To Go”. A mellow aroma due to roast and fresh green fregrance delighted me!
Kishuen preferentially selects fine crude teas of Yabukita cultivar made by some tea factories in Shizuoka and blended them to produce their special flavor suiting for modern local taste. The blender refines teas to enhance their aroma and adjust their scent more fresh.
A line of loose leaf teas of Kishuen.
It is described on the package that loose leaf tea of Kishuen is blended crude tea of Yabukita cultivar produced in Shizuoka and refined to adjust the aroma more fresh note suitting to modern local taste.
The sign of Kishuen is the symbol mark of tea jar so-called “Chatsubo”. The Hiragana characters drawn on the tea jar mark is “Souemon”, which is the bland name of Kishuen’s original blend and derived from the name of Kishuen founder “Sahara Souemon”.
The symbol mark of Kishuen. The Hiragana characters on the central of tea jar mark is “Souemon”. And phrase written on the right side is the mission statement of Kishuen. “We express the mind of Aizu people in our teas.”
Kishuen is located along with “Noguchi Hideo road” and it takes approx. 10 minutes’ walk from the east gate of Aizu Wakamatsu station on the way to the Tsuruga Castle.
< Information of Kishuen >
- Address : Omachi 1-1-55, Aizu Wakamatsu city, Fukushima prefecture.
- Access : Approx. 10 minutes walk to south direction along with “Noguchi Hideo road” from the east gate of Aizu Wakamatsu Station.
- Hours : 10:00 – 18:00.
- Holiday : Wednesday and 3rd Sunday in every month.