Flower Fragrance Iccha Kariban Green Tea

Low Caffeine

A rare gem among Japanese teas, Flower Fragrance Iccha Kariban is a deeply aromatic green tea with an unexpected floral bouquet, reminiscent of blooming jasmine or sweet osmanthus. Grown in limited quantities in Kagoshima, Japan, and processed using a unique early-picking and resting technique, this tea delivers a soft, buttery mouthfeel, a long-lasting floral finish, and a calming yet uplifting energy that makes it unlike any sencha or gyokuro. An elegant cup for the tea connoisseur seeking subtlety, sophistication, and soul.

Flower Fragrance Iccha Kariban Green Tea

  • Rich in catechins for antioxidant support
  • Calms the nervous system while supporting mental alertness
  • Promotes healthy metabolism and gentle detox
  • Low in caffeine—perfect for afternoon calm
  • Enhances mood and clarity with floral aromatherapy effects
  • Delicate and perfumed, this green tea opens with soft gardenia and lilac notes, followed by hints of steamed greens and white peaches. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with a lingering floral finish that feels like spring on the tongue. No artificial flavoring—this tea’s aromatic complexity is entirely natural, the result of expert cultivation and careful processing.
$27.00 0.48 Per Serving Sale Save
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Though this tea is grown in Japan, its poetic name and process harken to a long lineage of Japanese craftsmanship inspired by nature’s fleeting beauty—particularly cherry blossoms and seasonal change. “Iccha Kariban” roughly translates to “First Desire Flower Fragrance,” referring to both its early-season plucking and intoxicating aroma. This cultivar was developed to naturally express floral aromatic compounds without any added flavors.


The tea reflects Japanese tea philosophy at its finest: restraint, subtlety, and a deep reverence for nature. It’s a favorite among tea masters and collectors seeking rare and ephemeral expressions of terroir.

Use 1 teaspoon (about 2g) per 8 oz cup. Steep in 160–175°F water for 60–90 seconds. For a second steep, use slightly hotter water and a shorter time. Avoid over-steeping to preserve the tea’s natural sweetness and fragrance.

Close-up of a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. The image showcases clusters of delicate pink flowers with soft petals and prominent stamens, with blurred background branches and sky, emphasizing vibrant details in the foreground.
Naturally Floral Aroma

Unlike scented teas, Iccha Kariban’s floral notes are inherent to the leaf—no flowers are added. The result is a beautifully nuanced cup that captures the essence of spring blossoms through skilled cultivation and gentle drying.

Grown in Japan

Kagoshima is one of Japan’s premier tea-growing regions, known for its volcanic soil, clean air, and mineral-rich water. These ideal conditions give the tea depth, balance, and a uniquely soft character.

Hand-Harvested, Lightly Steamed

Picked early in the season and lightly steamed in the Fukamushi style, this tea is then allowed to rest, developing a more rounded, mellow flavor. The resting process deepens its signature floral aroma.

Customer Reviews

How to Steep Loose Leaf Tea

What is Tea Ceremony?

FAQ

Yes, all of our teas undergo rigorous third-party testing to ensure they meet the highest standards for quality, purity, and safety. We proudly hold certifications for each blend, so you can sip confidently, knowing that our teas are crafted with care and integrity.

Our teas are cultivated, harvested, and blended from soil to cup with the Magic Hour Rule of Love. The base of our teas is grown in the tea estate where I was married :)! The exquisite buds are grown and harvested by our friends in a garden that touches the sky at the top of the mountains in the high-country of Sri Lanka. The pristine Idulgashinna Bio Tea Garden’s perched above a wildlife preserve. It was the first tea garden to become certified Biodynamic and organic in the world, it’s home to our family of farmers and growers whose respect towards nature and one another has become the gold standard of tea estates all over the world. We also source from small organic family gardens in Taiwan, Rwanda, India, Yunnan, Kyoto and Kagoshima, Japan.

Our formulator, Zhena, is an aromatherapist and was one of the founders of the Organic and Fair Trade movement over 25 years ago. She was crucial in getting rules for organics passed and has had a long-time passion for organics, Biodynamics and pure products. Her blending style is bold and she uses Organic-Compliant extracts of fruits, essential oils, and spices that fall under the “Natural Flavors” broad stroke ingredient description by the FDA. We only use extracts and flavors extracted with non-toxic methods and are 100% natural coming from the fruit or spice or flower that is distilled without chemicals.

Other companies may use “Natural Flavors” that are in a Propylene Glycol base—Zhena fought the label standards on this chemical 15 years ago and is dedicated to NEVER using flavorings with this or any other chemicals. Our flavors are entirely extracted naturally using alcohol or steam distillation. In the blending process, if the extract has alcohol, the alcohol dissipates. If you’ve ever used Vanilla Extract for cooking—you’ve used what Zhena uses in larger volumes.

When we writes, “Natural Flavors” it’s not because we wants to but that’s what the FDA requires. It’s not a great description and we assure you our standards are of the highest using only natural extracts and essential oils.

Please feel free to enjoy most of our teas without worry regarding being vegan compliant.
As of May of 2021, the only tea we have that is not vegan is Quintessence, which contains honey crystals.

You could steep our teas many times. A new flavor nuance will arise each time. If you’re planning to steep more than twice, you might want to add an additional teaspoon or two according to taste and the strength desired.

It's a common misconception that tea ceremony has to take up a lot of time from your schedule. I want to encourage you to take time for yourself, daily, in a simple tea ceremony. Simply naming 3 gratitudes as your water boils will uplift and shift your day!

However, the process only has to take as little as 10 minutes! For example, for most of our teas we suggest steeping 1 heaping teaspoon in water that is between 160--212 degrees (depending on the tea type--check the label!). As you steep your tea for the recommended minutes, take 3 heart-breaths, expanding the emerald green energy of your heart chakra. As you expand that blessed energy, you will activate your true intelligence which is found in the heart.

Then as you steep your loose-leaf magical tea, center into your senses. As yourself the Magic Hour sensory questions:

  • What do I hear?
  • What do I see?
  • What do I feel?
  • What do I smell?
  • What do I taste?

Then sip your tea with newfound presence.

Presence is where heaven is found. We want you to find your heaven on a daily basis!
For more steeping instructions, watch my video found here.