A green melody with a gentle flavor - GreenTea
☆ In Japan the plucking season begins in May with the coming of the first light showers.
The leaves which are plucked around May 2 have refreshing fragrance , sweetness and a little
bitterness.
We call the 2nd day of May "Hachijuhachiya". It is the 88th day from the first day of spring.
☆ How to Serve Fragrant Green Tea
1. Boil water fully and adjust it to the proper temperature for each kind of tea
(Gyokuro：50℃～60℃、Sencha：80℃～90℃、Genmaicha/Houjicha：100℃）..
2. Warm up the cups and pot beforehand.
3. Put the adequate amount of tea leaves and the adjusted water enough to cover the leaves into the pot.
In general, use about 2 or 3 tablespoons of tea leaves for 3 persons.
4 Steep for proper time(40~60sec.)
Then pour the tea a little into each cup by turns to assure the quality of the tea is equal in all the cups.
Drain the pot completely to enjoy the second steeping.
! Please be careful not to scald with hot water.
◎ Maccha
This is powdered green tea broken with a stone mill.
It has various uses. Tea ceremony and another purpose.
◎ Gyokuro
This is the best kind of tea.When the buds are about to come out ,the tea bushes are shaded and the tender
leaves are nurtured. Such great care brings about a rich flavor and a mellow taste in the leaves.
◎ Sencha
Sencha is the most popular green tea in Japan today.
Its slight bitterness and fresh flavor are fascinating.
◎ Karigane
Karigane is made of the stems of tea.It is mild to the taste and rich in fresh aroma.
◎ Gennmaicha
This is a mixture of tea leaves and roasted Gennmai(husked rice grains).
We can enjoy its smokey aroma and mild taste.
◎ Houjicha
Houjicha is roasted tea. It has distinctive toasted scent and refreshing taste.
★ Point for Storing Tea
The leaves are easily affected by heat and humidity. We should put them in cans or containers with lids
and stored in a cool dark place. After the seal is broken,tea gradually oxidizes, so please serve it as soon as
possible (within about a half year at normal temperature). When you store it in a refrigerator,you should seal
the containers tightly and take special care that tea leaves don't catch other scents.