26 tea by Minami-aso Tea House
26 KINDS OF HERBS, WILD GRASSES, GRAINS AND FRUITS. 26 TEA.
One of the thing you can't buy with money is health. But you can buy things that help to stay healthy. "26 tea" by "Minami-aso tea house" (南阿蘇TeaHouse) is one of those.
Minami-aso TeaHouse is a company that originated in Minamiaso area of Kumamoto prefecture, running 6 stores in Kumamoto, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Tea that they sale is blended with herbs, grains, wild grasses, and fruits. So, if you are looking for old style Japanese tea, better look somewhere-else. This is the perfect place to look for "Japanese tea blended with healthy ingredients".
Proverb in Japan says; "GOOD MEDICINE FOR HEALTH TASTES BITTER TO THE MOUTH". Same as "Kikicha" (効茶) I posted before, (Check my previous post: "Kikicha by Hinosabo".) 26 tea tastes just good as other Japanese tea. So, why don't you start drinking tea that actually do good?
I visited the tea shop to buy 26 tea for my stock. Here's the review of the shop and the tea. Check out.
Went to shop in PARCO Fukuoka. Although the shop isn't gigantic, there are plenty types of herbal tea to choose from.
Many kinds of healthy tea is lined up. Along with tea utensils.
Herbal tea packs in box (2g x 2) for ¥324 each. These nice little box can be wrapped for gift.
Each herbal tea has efficacy for good skin, recovery from exhaustion, good sleep, etc.
Caffeine-free tea, "SWEET HAPPINESS TEA". Rosehip, applepiece, grape, hibiscus, linden, stevia Reef, nettle, elder, corn flower are blended. Perfect tea for cold season.
There are also tea utensils which are perfect for drinking Minami-aso's tea. These "Sinogi" series are pottery from one of famous pottery place, "Hasami" (波佐見) in Nagasaki.
This is what I came for. Didn't know there was a limited version of 26 tea, 26+2. It says ginger and pu'er are blended in 26 tea. I won't be fooled by such "limited" marketing strategy. Just buy 26 tea and head back home...
26 Tea.
Price: ¥1,080
380g pack. There is also tea pack type available for the same price but less quantity. (8g x 20) And, don't mind the small things. 26+2 costs ¥1,188 for 230g. (*This 26+2 Tea is limited package of Fukuoka PARCO only.)
Pour contents on plates. The difference is not too obvious.
26 tea contains,
1. Bracket fungus (霊芝) - Prevent and good for anticancer, leukopenia, heart disease, and arrhythmia.
2. Houttuynia cordata (どくだみ) - Good for diuresis and prevent hypertension, cirrhosis, and empyema.
3. Persimmon leaves (柿の葉) - Prevents arteriosclerosis, hypertension, stain and freckles.
4. Veitch's bamboo (くま笹) - Good for heavy stomach, indigestion, and recovery from fatigue.
5. Sugar cane (とうきび) - Improves liver function, and good for calculus.
6. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (あまちゃづる) - Prevents stomach and duodenal ulcer. Good for bronchitis and asthma.
7. Cassia tora (ハブ草) - Improves vision and good for weak stomach, diuresis, and constipation.
8. Plantain (おおばこ) - Good for antidiarrheal, catarrh bronchitis, headache and eye diseases.
9. Licorice (甘草) - Good for Neuralgia and sore throat.
10. Black bean tea (黒豆茶) - Good for menopause, osteoporosis, and cholesterol decomposition.
11. Wheat (麦) - Contains rich vitamins and good for arteriosclerosis.
12. Wolfberry leaves (クコの葉) - Good for hypertension diseases.
13. Gojiberry/ Wolfberry (クコの実) - Prevents fatty liver and good for anti-aging.
14. Simon (シモン) - Control hypertension and prevents diabetes.
15. Loquat leaves (びわの葉) - Good for stomachic and intestinal. Prevents prostatomegaly (BPH).
16. Mulberry leaves (桑の葉) - Suppress increase in blood sugar levels. Good for diuresis, cough, expectorant and inflammatory.
17. Hama tea (はま茶) - Helps liver disease.
18. Tear grass (はと麦) - Helps warts, rheumatism, neuralgia and duodenal ulcer. Good for skin.
19. Ginkgo leaf (イチョウ葉) - Lower cholesterol. Helps enuresis and numbness fingers. Prevents dementia.
20. Aloe (アロエ) - Good for stain, freckles, indigestion, and gastritis.
21. Field Horsetail (スギナ) - Prevents hay fever. Anti-cancer. Helps joint pain and dermatitis.
22. Roasted green tea (ほうじ茶) - Prevents flu and aging. Suppress cancer metastasis. Helps ulcer.
23. Gymnema (ギムネマ) - Reduce the absorption of carbohydrates. Good for slimming diet and diabetes.
24. Glechoma (垣通し) - Good for diuresis, kidney stone, and hypoglycemic.
25. Rooibos (ルイボス) - Anti-aging tea that keeps your body warm, helps to sleep, diet, body odor, etc.
26. Rose hips (ローズヒップ) - Contains 20 times more vitamin C of lemon.
26+2 Tea.
Price: ¥1,188
230g. Limited edition of Fukuoka PARCO. Ginger and Pu'er are added to 26 Tea blend. Difference in looks from 26 tea isn't very noticeable. But smell of ginger is unmissable.
I'll be using this tea pack.
Pour 3 scoops of spoon and seal it by folding.
Stick you fingers between the pack and...
Flip over. Reshape the tea pack to avoid inside leaks when you pour hot water on it.
and done. Using tea pot with strainer saves the effort.
Pour hot water and wait for around 20 mins. Although scent of herbs will be faded after first go, taste of other ingredients can be extracted for a couple of times until the color of tea doesn't show up.
Trying old traditional Japanese tea sure is one thing. If you want try something much healthier, visit Minami-aso Tea House. You can taste tea before buying.
Where to buy: "Minami-aso Tea House"
Main shop.
Address: 1880-1, Ichizeki, Minamiasomura, Aso county, Kumamoto
Open hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Closed on: Thursday (Check availability by sending a meesage at their Facebook page. There may be unexpected holiday.)
PARCO shop.
Address: 5F, Fukuoka PARCO main building, 2-11-1, Tenjin, Chuo ward, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka
Open hours: 10:00 to 20:30
Shop list.
Minami-aso tea house official site.
