Shincha, or new tea, is made from the first harvest of new buds of the year, offering a fresh aroma and vibrant color. It's highly fresh with a young and refreshing scent. Let's enjoy the joy of this once-a-year harvest.
The fragrant and gentle-tasting new tea "Yutakamidori" pairs well with the refreshing sweetness of fruits. Cherries, which come into season in early summer, are delicious on their own, but when pickled with various varieties, they become a visually appealing snack.
New Tea "Yutakamidori" and Cherry Pickles
This is cold tea, made by rapidly cooling hot-brewed tea with ice. By combining the carefully extracted first infusion with the quickly extracted second infusion, you get a tea with a balanced sweetness and astringency.
Kagoshima, blessed with a warm climate, delivers Japan's earliest new tea, acting like a "cuckoo" heralding the transition from spring to summer. Its deep green color reminds one of fresh verdure. The fresh aroma and elegant sweetness are as refreshing as its appearance. The well-balanced, soft taste is delicious whether served hot or cold.
＜Ingredients＞
• Tea leaves "Yutakamidori" 4g
• Water (1st infusion) 70°C 90ml
• Water (2nd infusion) 80°C 90ml
• Ice as needed
＜Preparation＞
【1】Brew the first infusion
Slowly pour 90ml of 70°C water over the tea leaves and wait for 1 minute and 20 seconds without closing the lid.
【2】Cool the tea
Pour the tea into a glass server filled with ice, stir well to cool thoroughly, then pour into glasses. Add ice to the glass server for cooling the second infusion.
【3】Brew the second infusion
Slowly pour 80°C water into the teapot and wait for 10 seconds without closing the lid. Pour into the glass server, stir to cool, then combine with the first infusion in the glasses, and it's ready!
After nibbling on juicy cherries, take a sip of the chilled "Yutakamidori". I can't help but imagine a tea time with feet stretched out on the balcony or in the garden, basking in the sunlight.
This recipe is featured in "TOKYO TEA JOURNAL" VOL.25. You can view the special feature on the theme "Fruits in the Season of Fresh Greenery" from VOL.25 here.
