Kukicha

See also : Green Tea
Other names : 茎茶, winter tea, bancha twig tea, twig tea, bōcha (棒茶)
is a Japanese blend made of stems, stalks, and twigs of the shrub Camellia sinensi. It is available as a green tea or in more oxidized processing. Kukicha has a unique flavor and aroma among teas, due to its being composed of parts of the tea plant that are excluded from most other teas. Regular Kukicha material comes from production of Sencha or Matcha. When coming from Gyokuro's production, it takes the name of Karigane (雁ヶ音 / かりがね) or Shiraore (白折 / しらおれ).

Benefits and uses of Kukicha are

• the tea is believed to help improve and stabilize overall health and improve one's longevity.
• used to help balance the acidity levels in the body, therefore helping to prevent diseases.
• It is believed to help stave off cardiovascular diseases, improve bladder and kidney function, boost the immune system, and help to prevent problems with the joints and bones. While no research has been completed to prove these claims, they are widely held by many experts in natural remedies.
• vitamins and nutrients : A cup of kukicha tea is a good source of zinc, selenium, copper, fluoride, manganese, and calcium. It also contains vitamin A, vitamin C, and B-complex vitamins, as well as being a great source of anti-oxidants.
• Detox : Rich in antioxidants, twig tea possesses detoxifying properties that help the liver and kidneys function at their optimum and remove unwanted wastes and by-products.
• Kukicha is unique in that it is naturally very low in caffeine without any industrial decaffeination.