I like to drink hot
in the summer
Kyoto Main Store
I went to work for Ippodo because I fell in love with the Kaboku Tearoom.
What Japanese tea do you recommend?
How do you enjoy it?
When I feel worn out in summer mornings or evenings due to the air conditioning I enjoy ochazuke (tea poured over cooked rice) made using gyokuro, together with nukazuke (vegetables pickled in a fermented medium of rice bran and brine). The refreshing umami of Gyokuro-ko and the sourness of nukazuke combine in a smooth and light taste. It encourages appetite and shakes off weariness on days when I’m feeling worn out.
How do you prepare it?
I put Gyokuro-ko in a tea strainer set on top of a White Porcelain Teapot, and pour on hot water. I pour it over a bowl of rice to make ochazuke for myself, and into a teacup for my son. Preparing it in a teapot is convenient, because it allows you to serve the tea to more than one person.
Kyoto Main Store
I help to make the store relaxed and calming.
What Japanese tea do you recommend?
One-Pot Teabag Kuki Sencha (stems) (7g x 9 bags)
How do you enjoy it?
On days when it’s hot, I get myself going in the morning by preparing myself piping hot Kuki Sencha. I don’t handle the summer heat or busy mornings well, so I tend to always feel run-down. At times like that, I raise my body temperature and turn myself around by enjoying delicious, hot Japanese tea that can be prepared quickly and easily. Boiling hot water brings out the distinctive refreshing sweetness and invigorating fragrance of stems. Piping hot Kuki Sencha puts me in a confident mood that makes me feel I can face the challenges of the day ahead.
How do you prepare it?
In the morning, I somehow manage to leave my futon and make my way to the kitchen, where I fill the tea kettle with water, and wait around in a haze until the water comes to a boil. Once it’s boiling, that means it’s almost time for tea! All I have to do is put a teabag into the teapot, and pour on hot water. It’s really easy. Another good thing about One-Pot Teabag Kuki Sencha is that you can use the same teabag to make multiple pots of tea. I pour the second and third pots of tea into a largish tumbler, which provides me with the tea I need to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Kyoto Main Store
I’m great at preparing take-out drinks.
What Japanese tea do you recommend?
How do you enjoy it?
When I’m wiped out from the summer heat, I relax in an air-conditioned room, and enjoy matcha with summer wagashi sweets that have a refreshing air. I reinvigorate body and mind with Ikuyo-no-mukashi, which has mild sweetness and a refreshing aftertaste.
How do you prepare it?
I prepare it with a little more matcha than usual—3 grams. Then, I whisk it quickly with 150 ml of boiling hot water that has been cooled slightly. That produces a refreshing taste with just the right amount of sharpness and sweetness. I recommend pouring it into a double wall glass, because that allows you to view the deep green colour of the matcha.
