Ine to Agave Launches New Craft Sake Using Black Tea Leaves from Premium Bottled Tea Brand 'IBUKI'

Ine to Agave Co., Ltd., which focuses on community development centered around its craft sake brewery in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, has announced the start of lottery-based reservations for 'Ine to Wa-Kocha (IBUKI bottled tea),' a collaborative craft sake created with 'IBUKI bottled tea' (Kanes Seicha Co., Ltd.), a premium bottled tea brand dedicated to spreading the value of authentic Japanese tea to the world.

Background of the Collaboration Since its founding in 2021, Ine to Agave has been operating under the philosophy of 'brewing the climate of Oga.' In crafting craft sake based on rice and koji, the company has constantly challenged itself to express new flavors by incorporating various secondary ingredients. This collaboration was sparked by a meeting with Mr. Komatsu of Kanes Seicha, the manufacturer of 'IBUKI.' The experimental attempt to ferment tea leaves alongside rice and koji has resulted in a craft sake with an unprecedented flavor profile.

Product Overview The tea leaves used as the primary ingredient are a blend centered on the 'Izumi' black tea variety, cultivated by Mr. Niroku Muramatsu, the pioneer of modern Japanese black tea in Shizuoka Prefecture. Using top-grade black tea leaves, the sake is brewed using a unique process where the tea leaves, after being used for bottled tea, are re-steeped in hot water, and that extract is used in place of brewing water. The rich aroma of black tea gradually transforms during fermentation into a flavor reminiscent of muscat grapes, resulting in a well-balanced and exquisite finish.

The Mechanism of Aroma Transformation The change from the rich aroma of black tea at the start of the process to a muscat-like scent during fermentation is attributed to the 'glycosides' present in the tea leaves. While aroma compounds often exist in a bound state with sugars (glycosides), the enzyme β-glucosidase—found in the white koji used in the brewing process—cleaves these sugars, releasing volatile aromatic components such as linalool, geraniol, and linalool oxide. This combination produces notes resembling muscat, white grapes, and floral fruits.

Product Information - Product Name: Ine to Wa-Kocha (IBUKI bottled tea) - Category: Other Brewing (Craft Sake) - Ingredients: Rice, Rice Koji, Black Tea, Oolong Tea - Content: 500ml - Price: 3,300 JPY (including tax) + shipping

Representative Comments Shohei Okazumi, Representative of Ine to Agave, highlighted the potential for a new circular economy, stating that the project enables tea to be enjoyed twice: once as IBUKI tea and a second time as craft sake. Genki Komatsu of IBUKI expressed high expectations for the fusion of artisanal and scientific approaches to unlock new possibilities for the synergy between Japanese tea and sake.