Kyoto Main Store
Resolving questions about Japanese tea one question at a time.
What Japanese tea do you recommend drinking cold?
Why do you choose it?
This matcha, varieties with a different name "Shoin-no-mukashi", is characterized by prominent sweetness and umami flavour, refined richness, and a refreshing aftertaste. The “Shoin” in the Shoin-no-mukashi product name is a reference to how the bubbling of water in an iron kettle in a traditional tearoom sounds like the wind blowing through pine trees. In a modern kitchen, the kettle has a different sound, but it still signals that it’s matcha time. Modern kettles are more convenient, and anything that makes enjoying matcha easier is a good thing.
How do you prepare it?
I get the water ready by cooling it down with ice. Then, I pour on half of the 60 ml of water, and whisk the matcha vigorously to make sure there are no clumps in it. I then pour on the rest of the water, and finish whisking. That’s it! You can also use a glass bowl or large glass mug and add a little ice after whisking. Seeing the ice floating on the tea helps to make you feel even cooler. This satisfying matcha delight can be enjoyed for about 150 yen per bowl of usucha. There are no tea leaves to deal with afterwards, so cleaning up is easy!
Tokyo Marunouchi Store
Providing suggestions for making delicious Japanese tea part of customers’ lives.
What Japanese tea do you recommend drinking cold?
One-Pot Teabag Gyokuro (7g x 6 bags)
Why do you choose it?
When I go out on hot summer afternoons, I make a point of taking along cold-brewed Tekiro in a travel flask. Tekiro is a gyokuro with very well-balanced umami and sweetness. I’m particularly partial to its smooth, refined umami flavour. During the hot summer, just taking a sip of thirst-quenching ice-cold Tekiro makes me feel revitalized, with renewed vigour and joy.
How do you prepare it?
I cold-brew two Gyokuro One-Pot Teabags in 500 ml of water along with three or four large ice cubes for thirty minutes, and then pour it into my travel flask.
Information systems
Providing technical support to keep Ippodo running smoothly in today’s world.
What Japanese tea do you recommend drinking cold?
Why do you choose it?
Hosen is a tea I’m very familiar with. It was served to me when I came in for my job interview several decades ago, and I serve it to customers when they visit. Cold-brewed Hosen gives you a very mild fragrance together with Hosen’s distinctive balance of refreshing taste and mild umami.
How do you prepare it?
When I get to work in the morning, I turn on the PC and head to the kitchen area. I get the kyusu ready, open the tea canister, put two spoons of tea leaves into the kyusu, and pour on well water. After I’ve spent a bit of time doing something else, the cold-brewed Hosen is just right for drinking. I come back, pour some into my cup and take it to my seat. That’s my ritual for beginning a busy day.
