Japanese Black Tea Online | Single-Origin Ise Tea Wakocha | Fujihachi Saryo
Wakocha is Japanese black tea — made by fully fermenting leaves from Japanese green tea cultivars. Unlike teas from India or Sri Lanka, wakocha has less tannin, resulting in a gentle sweetness and delicate floral aroma with very little bitterness. Fujihachi Saryo's wakocha is made from single-origin Ise tea grown in our own fields in Kawamatatani, Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture. Enjoy it straight or as a milk tea.
Ise Tea Wakocha Teabags × 8What is wakocha? — the delicate black tea born from Japanese green tea cultivars
The same tea leaf can become green tea, oolong tea, or black tea depending on the degree of fermentation applied during processing. Wakocha — Japanese black tea — is made by fully fermenting leaves from Japanese green tea cultivars such as Yabukita.
Compared with Indian Assam or Sri Lankan Ceylon varieties, Japanese green tea cultivars contain less tannin, so even when fully fermented the tea remains low in bitterness. Instead, a gentle sweetness and delicate floral, fruity aroma come to the fore. The tea's original flavour is not easily overpowered by milk, making it an excellent choice for milk tea as well.
Japanese black tea made from domestic leaves is produced in small quantities, making it a rare and precious tea. The wakocha crafted from carefully tended leaves in Kawamatatani — the home of Ise tea — is a cup that can only come from this place.
Single-origin wakocha from Kawamatatani
The tea leaves from Kawamatatani are rich in amino acids (theanine), thanks to the valley's terrain that naturally blocks afternoon sunlight. When these theanine-rich leaves are fully fermented, the amino acids transform into complex aromatic compounds, yielding a wakocha with pronounced sweetness and fragrance.
Deep-steamed sencha, houjicha, and wakocha — all three are born from the same tea fields in Kawamatatani. Watching the same terroir express itself differently through different processing methods is one of the joys of single-origin tea.
Deep-steamed sencha from the same tea fieldsHoujicha from the same tea fields
Wakocha Products from Fujihachi Saryo
How to Enjoy Wakocha
Straight tea
- Water temperature: 90–95°C
- Steeping time: 2–3 minutes (longer than for green tea)
- Enjoy the tea's natural sweetness and aroma at its purest
Milk tea
- Brew strong (steep 3–4 minutes), then add warmed milk
- Low tannin means it pairs exceptionally well with milk
- Natural sweetness comes through even without sugar
Iced tea
- Simply brew hot and pour over ice
- The liquor turns a beautiful amber colour
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q.How is wakocha different from foreign black teas?
A.Because wakocha uses Japanese green tea cultivars, it contains less tannin than Indian or Sri Lankan teas, resulting in far less bitterness. It has a gentle sweetness and a delicate floral, fruity aroma — and does not become astringent when drunk straight.
- Q.Can I make milk tea with it?
A.Yes. Its low tannin content means it pairs beautifully with milk — the tea's natural sweetness and aroma still come through clearly. You can enjoy its natural sweetness without adding sugar.
- Q.Does it contain caffeine?
A.Yes. Wakocha contains approximately 17 mg of caffeine per 100 ml — similar to regular green tea. If you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake, please consider our low-caffeine green tea.
- Q.Can I make iced tea with it?
A.Yes. Simply brew hot and pour directly over ice for a beautiful amber-coloured iced tea.
- Q.What is the shelf life?
A.The shelf life is one year from the date of manufacture. After opening, store away from moisture and consume as soon as possible.
