Brewer's Note: Honey Tea Brew - Earl Grey

A Japanese black tea grown, processed, and aged in Shibushi, Kagoshima Prefecture, blended to showcase a sweet, fruity aroma, with the first-flush "Benifuki" tea as its core. This is a honey tea mead crafted to evoke a domestic Earl Grey, using Japanese bergamot.

The bergamot is sourced directly from an organic farmer in Onomichi. It features the refreshing acidity derived from fresh juice and the vibrant aroma of its peel.

All of the key tea leaves are sourced from Horiguchi Seicha, whose motto is "Putting fire into the tea industry and our challenges."
The selection of tea leaves to best complement the bergamot and bring out the essence of Earl Grey was conducted under the full supervision of Mr. Tajimi, owner of Tokyo's wacasu, and produced as a joint effort.

We created a homemade Earl Grey by extracting freshly shaved seasonal bergamot together with the tea leaves in hot water, then blended it with honey.
It was fermented for a long time at a relatively low temperature to keep the fermentation-derived aromas subtle.

Since heat treatment might destroy the delicate nuances of the tea leaves, we bottled it without pasteurization, using primary bottle fermentation. Please enjoy it while it's fresh. It’s also great with a single ice cube.

All distribution is handled by "Ohsumi Sazen."

For inquiries, click here 〉https://sazen.jp/
Instagram 〉https://www.instagram.com/ohsumisazen

〈Tokyo → Shibushi → Yasu〉

This project began with a meeting with Mr. Tajimi, owner of Tokyo’s wacasu.
We first met just after the summer, two years ago.

A shaggy, colorful person showed up at our factory────

He looked around the factory, showed interest in many things, and before we knew it, without a second thought, we were saying, "Let’s make a mead using tea."

Mr. Tajimi travels back and forth between Tokyo and Shiga as if they were neighboring towns.
He invited us to visit Shibushi as if it were a nearby town too, and off we at ANTELOPE went. That’s where we met everyone at Horiguchi Seicha, whose tea we used for this project.

Daisuke-san, the CEO, seems to be constantly taking on new challenges—the Shohei Ohtani of the tea industry.
But he works so incredibly hard that even when we go out for drinks with Mr. Tajimi, he always ends up falling asleep somewhere. He is loved by everyone, and he gives us all the drive to take on new challenges.

〈Tasting Note〉
The ABV is 8%. It begins with an experience of being enveloped in the overwhelming aroma of Earl Grey tea leaves. The liquid, which is dry and carries a moderate acidity, is like a cup of tea with a squeeze of lemon. Its light body makes it perfect for enjoying from the mid-afternoon onwards. Recommended pairings include smoked salmon bagel sandwiches, citrus pound cake, and croissants.

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Style: Honey Tea Mead - Green Tea Mead
ABV (Alcohol by volume): 15%
Carbonation: None
Volume: 750ml, 500ml
Ingredients: Honey (from Myanmar), Green tea (Yutakamidori)
Sweetness (10-point scale): 3 (Semi-Dry)
Serving Temperature: Cellar temperature (8-16°C)
Pairing: Charcoal-grilled local chicken, shira-ae (mashed tofu salad), red bean and butter sandwich