2024 Toronto Tea Festival official winner, 4th in the green tea category (blind tasting). Karigane is made from the stems of Gyokuro and high grade Sencha. Tea leaves and stems, are sorted during the finishing process. The stems are called Karigane, and only account for about 5 to 10% of all tea leaves. The stems of middle or low grade Sencha are not called Karigane but Kukicha. Karigane Shiro Himeji is sweet with no bitter taste.