When the sun is blazing, and you’re craving something refreshing, nothing hits the spot like a perfectly brewed glass of iced tea. But we’re not talking about just any iced tea—we are talking about the world of ice brewing, a method that brings out the delicate, nuanced flavors of our favorite green tea, Sencha.
What is Ice Brewing?
Ice brewing, also known as Kōridashi, is a traditional Japanese method of brewing tea using ice instead of hot water. This technique extracts the tea’s flavors slowly as the ice melts, resulting in a sweet, smooth, and naturally cold brew. Unlike the usual hot-to-cold methods, ice brewing emphasizes subtlety and sweetness without the risk of bitterness.
Why Sencha?
Sencha is one of Japan’s most popular teas, known for its vibrant green color and refreshing, grassy flavor. The ice brewing process highlights Sencha’s natural sweetness and umami flavor, creating a brew that’s both complex and thirst-quenching. The slow melt of ice allows the tea leaves to release their flavors gently, producing a tea that’s less astringent than a hot brew but still packed with all the antioxidants and health benefits you expect from green tea.
How to Ice Brew Sencha
Ready to cool down with some ice-brewed Sencha? Here’s how you can do it at home:
Ingredients:
- 5g of Sencha tea leaves
- A handful of ice cubes (about 8-10, depending on size)
- Filtered water (optional, if you want to top up)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Tea: Place the Sencha tea leaves in a teapot or a large glass container.
- Add Ice: Cover the tea leaves with ice cubes. The more ice you use, the slower the brewing process, so feel free to experiment with different amounts.
- Wait and Watch: Now, here’s where patience is key. Let the ice melt slowly over the tea leaves. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the temperature of your environment and the size of the ice cubes.
- Serve: Once the ice has completely melted, give the tea a gentle stir, strain, and pour over ice. Sit and enjoy the pure, delicate flavors of ice-brewed Sencha. If you prefer a more diluted brew, you can add a splash of cold, filtered water.
When to Enjoy Ice-Brewed Sencha
Ice-brewed Sencha is the perfect companion for a hot summer afternoon, a light brunch, or even as a refreshing palate cleanser after a meal. It’s also a great way to impress guests at your next tea party—after all, how often do you get to serve tea brewed by the gentle touch of ice?
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a way to elevate your tea game this summer, ice brewing is the way to go. With its smooth, sweet flavor and cool, refreshing nature, ice-brewed Sencha is more than just a drink—it’s an experience. In addition to Sencha, you can also try ice brewing our Supreme Sencha Green Tea or our Gyokuro Green Tea. Grab some ice, your favorite green tea leaves, and let the slow melt begin. Here’s to staying cool, calm, and happy!