MIZUDASHI (COLD-INFUSED) TEA

In Japan, we drink hot tea ingot weather to cool down. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but trust me, science proves it ( as do the millions of tea drinkers in South, SE, and East Asia.)
But temperatures in the Seattle area hit 95 F (35 C) this past weekend, and I was doing some traveling where it was not convenient to stop and make tea. It was time for some Mizudashi-cha.

Mizudashi (cold-infused, literally "cold-extracted") is so easy to make. It's just tea and cold water. Depending on the tea, I usually use 10 to 15 grams of tea (about 1 to 2 heaping tablespoons) and 1 liter (about 4 cups) of cold water. Combine these in a glass jar, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Strain thoroughly (but don't squeeze the tea leaves) and enjoy. You can get an additional infusion out of this, and when I want to make a large batch I just repeat the process and mix the infusions to make 2 liters worth of mizudashi-cha.

This works well with almost any Sencha, Gyokuro, or Kukicha (Stem Tea.) One of my favorite teas to use in the method is Karigane, the stems of Gyokuro. It has that slight Gyokuro sweetness to it, as well as the mild woodsiness of stem teas.

So, hot tea or cold tea, we have you covered this summer! Charaku Fine Japanese Tea.

2017 SHINCHA IS IN!

SHINCHA (New Harvest Tea) is in! Website updates are still underway, but teas are now ready to order at
www.charaku-tea.com.

Due to cold weather in Japan this past winter and spring, the new tea harvest was extremely late this year. However, we secured our orders as soon as teas were available and are now excited to share this year's tea with you. New tea offerings this year include more Organic Sencha and Gyokuro offerings from Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture. This area has been expanding organic farming methods in recent years, and some good organic teas are now being produced there. We look forward to continue offering you the finest variety of Japanese teas as we begin the new tea year!

2017 SHINCHA COMING SOON!

Summer greetings from Charaku Fine Japanese Tea. 2017 Shincha (New Harvest Tea) is due in next week! 

Due to cold weather in Japan, the new tea harvest was extremely late this year. However, we secured our orders as soon as teas were available and expect the 2017 shincha to arrive next week.  In the meantime, our remaining inventory of 2016 teas are currently available at 20% to 30% off! These are our steepest discounts ever, so it's a good time to stock up. All of our Genmaicha, Houjicha, and Kukicha are 30% off, and remaining Sencha and Gyokuro are 20% off while supplies last. Remember that Charaku teas are always small-packed and nitrogen-flushed for maximum freshness and longevity, so 2016 teas are still good well into 2018. 

New tea offerings to look forward to are more organic Sencha and Gyokuro from Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture. This area has been expanding organic farming methods in recent years, and some good organic teas are now being produced there.

Visit www.charaku-tea.com to see our selection of teas, tea accessories, and tea ware. If you would like to combine shipping on orders of 2016 and 2017 teas, just let me know in the comments section and I'll hold current sale order and refund any shipping difference of combined orders.

We are also discounting items by 15% to 20% of the listed prices on our WaSabiDou site, www.mingei-wasabidou.com, in preparation of a showroom move this summer. There are lots of antique & contemporary crafts, including: ceramic tea wares, Japanese art and craft books, wood-block prints, folk toys, and more. Please visit and ask any questions.                

    Thank you so much for your past support and I look forward to continue providing you the finest variety of Japanese teas as we enter the New Tea Year!

    Sincerely,

    Tatsuo