Kukicha is a Japanese tea made from the twigs and stems of the same plant that black tea and green tea come from. Kukicha tea is also known as three years tea because the stems and branches that are used to do it have been in the tea plant for at least three years, so they have lost virtually all of the caffeine (only kukicha tea is between 0.5 and 1% caffeine) but, however, have absorbed all the multiple properties and vitamins of nature around them. The higher-grade teas, such as matcha and sencha, are produced using the buds and leaves, leaving the plants nearly bare after harvesting. Kukicha usually takes the form of green tea, but more oxidized varieties are available. Twig tea has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. The common green tea variety of kukicha has a wide variety of touted health benefits.