What is Wakoucha? Our Guide to Japanese Black Tea

A rare black tea produced in Japan, Wakoucha, which literally means "Japanese black tea," is light, clean, and mellow, with notes of stone fruit, chrysanthemum, clove, honey, spice, and oak.

Japanese Wakoucha Black Tea shown packaged in a brown Kraft bag alongside a wooden scoop of loose tea leaves and a black cup full of brewed tea.
Japanese Wakoucha loose tea leaves on a wooden plank and in a wooden scoop.
Japanese Wakoucha Black Tea shown packaged in a brown tin alongside a black with white interior full of brewed tea and a wooden platter of loose tea leaves.

Japanese Wakoucha Black Tea

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About Wakoucha

While Japan is best known for its green teas, such as Sencha and Gyokuro, the country also produces a handful of specialty black teas each year. In contrast to typical black teas produced in China and India, Wakoucha produces a lighter, milder cup of tea, with a reddish hue and a pleasant natural sweetness.

Because of the unique cultivar and characteristics of this tea, we recommend steeping it at a lower temperature and for less time than other types of black tea. Wakoucha blends many of the typical characteristics of black teas, such as a full body and a malty, natural sweetness, with some of the typical characteristics of Japanese green teas, such as mellow flavor and moderate caffeine.

Our Wakoucha is grown in Fujieda in Shizuoka prefecture by third-generation tea farmers with a passion for unique, high-quality teas. Wakoucha is produced from second flush tea leaves harvested in the spring. This tea is lighter and mellower than many other black teas, with a subtle sweetness and spice. The tea brews up a vibrant amber color, and has notes of stone fruit, chrysanthemum, and clove. Whether you’re interested in specialty black teas or are just looking for a mild, flavorful black tea that’s a little out of the ordinary, Wakoucha is a great pick!

Wakoucha benefits

Some benefits of black teas like include:

  • High in antioxidants: Like other types of tea made from camellia sinensis plant, black tea is extremely high in antioxidants.
  • Good for your heart: Black tea contains flavanoids which can help to boost heart health.
  • Helps with digestion: Consuming black tea can have a positive effect on digestion and help soothe stomach troubles.
  • Boosts energy: Wakoucha has a moderate amount of caffeine, which can help to boost energy and alertness.
  • Contains anti-inflammatory properties: Like other types of tea, black tea can help to soothe symptoms of inflammation.

Wakoucha caffeine content

Wakoucha contains a moderate amount of caffeine. It tends to be a little lower in caffeine than other types of black tea.

How to brew Wakoucha

  1. Use 1 heaping teaspoon per 6 oz. water.
  2. Heat water until steaming briskly, not boiling (approximately 180 degrees).
  3. Steep for 2 minutes.

To get the fullest flavor from your tea, we recommend using a teapot, tea infuser, or tea filter that allows the leaves to fully expand.

Other Japanese teas

Aside from Wakoucha, we carry a variety of other specialty Japanese teas.

Japanese Oolong

This rare Japanese oolong is light and floral, with a buttery mouthfeel and hints of jasmine and apricot. Our Japanese Oolong is sourced from Shimada in Shizuoka Prefecture, where the Ojiro river and the gentle mountains of the region contribute ideal growing conditions for tea. This spring-harvest tea is lightly oxidized.

Sencha

From Shizuoka on the Fujiyama mountain slopes, our Sencha is a classic example of a Japanese green tea. Sencha is one of the most popular green teas in Japan, and for good reason. This tea has a medium body and brews up into a pale green-gold liquor, with citrus and oceanic notes.

Gyokuro

A shade-grown tea produced from the leaves of the first harvest, Gyokuro is one of the most prized teas in Japan, and is famed for its savory umami character. Gyokuro tea plants are shaded for at least three weeks prior to harvest, which increases the chlorophyll content in the plants and results in a dark, blue-green tea leaf with a rich, oceanic flavor and a subtle sweetness. This process also increases the caffeine and theanine content of the tea. Gyokuro is Japanese for “jade dew,” which refers to the bright green color of the brewed tea. Our Gyokuro is sourced from Fukuoka Prefecture.

Sobacha

Sobacha, also known as buckwheat tea, is made from roasted buckwheat kernels, and is a traditional drink in Japan. This naturally caffeine-free herbal tea is nutty and subtly sweet, and can be enjoyed hot or iced. Our Sobacha is sourced from Hokkaido, Japan and is grown without pesticides. This variety of buckwheat is notable for its smaller, rounded kernels, sweeter flavor, and high concentration of vitamins and minerals.

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