Green Tea Seminar

GREEN TEA SEMINAR

One day in spring, I attended the Japanese tea seminar at Ippodo located in Marunouchi, Tokyo.  The Ippodo is a Kyoto-based purveyor of premium Japanese tea. It was founded about 300 years ago in Kyoto.

The aim of the seminar was to show us how to enjoy premium green teas, including Maccha powdered tea, Gyokuro, the most expensive green tea and Bancha, a popular tea with reasonable cost. 

First, Sencha Tonic was served to us. It was created with deep green tea and Wilkinson tonic water in 1:1 rate.  It smells fresh tea flavor.

Then the instructor explained that there are two types of tea field, one is outside and the other is indoors to offer protection from the sun.

Sencha and Bancha are field grown teas, which taste flints and Gyokucha and Maccha are indoor grown teas, which taste sweet.

The types of Japanese tea. 

Gyokuro is called the emperor of Japanese green teas. Gyokuro’s tea leaves are covered by shade for the final month before harvesting.  This process of shading prevents an amino acid from converting into Catechins, which causes the bitterness. As a result, Gyokuro tea has a sweet taste compared to the sun- grown Sencha.

Matcha tea is the powdered form of Tencha tea leaves, which are shade-grown, while Sencha is sun-grown.  The shading process creates a sweetness.

Sencha tea is the most popular and common Japanese tea, which are sun-grown. They are categorized by the processing method, or steaming time.  

Three Factors Determine the Taste are :

1.How much tea should I use in a pot? 2. Water for Japanese tea brewing and water temperature 80 ºC (176 ºF). 3. How long should I brew the tea for?

After tasting several teas, Bamboo Basket lunch was served.

It was gorgeous Hanami Bento with a variety of ingredients and beautifully arranged. It was prepared by Sanyukyo, a famous Kaiseki cuisine restaurant in Takanawa, Tokyo.

Maccha and Wagashi (sweets) and green tea glasse were served as well.  We enjoyed the moment of having a premium green tea and soaked in the ambiance of Japanese culture.

Macaron and maccha espresso is a perfect for Obento lunch!

* Chef's Bento in bamboo case:

Bamboo shoot mixed rice, Seabream sushi, Fried Shrimp, Baked Tofu, Vegetable Tempura, Roasted Salmon with the fragrant acccent of the prickly ash tree leaves, Japanese omelet, Teriyaki Bonito.