Light brownish yellow liquor with toasty flavour, tending sweet.
Infusion
Tending bright with toasted rice kernels.
Ingredients
Luxury green tea, roasted rice.
Information
This is a specialty Japanese green tea that is blended with fire-toasted rice. A good grade Japan sencha is blended with the toasted rice. The fresh vegetative character of the green tea is imparted on the cup but it is tempered with the bakey-like character of the rice. There is a natural sweetness and almost chewy character to the finish of this tea. During the firing of the rice, it is not uncommon for rice to pop not unlike popcorn, hence the pet name popcorn-tea.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly, about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180F or 90C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup and let the tea steep for about 3 minutes. Begin enjoying a cup of enchantment but do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low, add more water, and repeat until the flavor of the tea is exhausted.
Alternatively, as with all quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea into the teapot and pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn. Steep for 2-4 minutes to taste, stir, and pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since green tea is enjoyed straight-up.
Iced tea-brewing method (to make 1 qt): Scoop 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat-resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher, straining the leaves. Add ice and top off the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. Please note that this tea may tend to be cloudy or milky when poured over ice.
