Iced Matcha

[britt]

I just opened my two Seigan matcha chawan from Magokorodo and wanted to try them out, but It's extremely hot here tonight so I didn't feel like hot matcha. Then I remembered that Hibiki-an says matcha can be made with cold water as long as it's near 32 F. I tried it and was very surprised by how easy it was. Plenty of foam and literally no lumps. The iced matcha went very well with that dark-chocolate covered Italian cream cake thing I bought earlier today. I didn't cool the chawan in the refrigerator, which Hibiki-an recommends, because I didn't feel like waiting that long. In spite of this, the results were surprisingly good.

[chingwa]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of, but I also find matcha to be quite tasty when added to milk with a bit of honey to sweeten (really, just a little...) and a bunch of ice cubes...

[britt]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of, but I also find matcha to be quite tasty when added to milk with a bit of honey to sweeten (really, just a little...) and a bunch of ice cubes...

I just received an e-mail from Hidehisa of Magokorodo, the vendor from whom I purchase most of my matcha chawan. I had mentioned that I used my new Seigan for iced matcha, thinking he would probably refuse to sell me any more chawan in the future! He said that although the old aristocrat's tea ceremony is very severe, enjoying matcha at home is as free (from rules) as when one is drinking coffee. He said he sometimes uses milk and sugar for a matcha version of cafe au lait.

I had thought about adding ice cubes and now I think I will. I assume you probably use a bit more matcha when you do this?

I also left my matcha chawan in the refrigerator last night to pre-cool it. That's quite a switch from the usual pre-heating!

[Catfur]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of...

What's sacrilegious about it? Last time I checked the Japanese mix Matcha with all kinds of things (ice cream, noodles, cookies, etc...).

[MadeForTeaVea]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of, but I also find matcha to be quite tasty when added to milk with a bit of honey to sweeten (really, just a little...) and a bunch of ice cubes...

This is grounds for being permaband. Haha I kid, I kid. I get so aggravated when pretentious tea snobs tell others that they are enjoying their tea wrong. I'm personally kind of a purist when it comes to my tea but I got no problem with people doing whatever they want to enjoy their tea.

I think people get to caught up in the formality of tea and forget to actually sit back and enjoy it. I say, throw caution to the wind and do what makes you happy.

[britt]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of, but I also find matcha to be quite tasty when added to milk with a bit of honey to sweeten (really, just a little...) and a bunch of ice cubes...

This is grounds for being permaband. Haha I kid, I kid. I get so aggravated when pretentious tea snobs tell others that they are enjoying their tea wrong. I'm personally kind of a purist when it comes to my tea but I got no problem with people doing whatever they want to enjoy their tea.

I think people get to caught up in the formality of tea and forget to actually sit back and enjoy it. I say, throw caution to the wind and do what makes you happy.

Right on!

I think that was the point made by Hidehisa of Magokorodo. The aristocrat's tea ceremony is expected to be very formal and has a rigid set of rules, but at home just do as you please and enjoy the freedom and flexibility.

There's some things I don't like to do but others may find them to be convenient. I just packed up and stored my infuser mugs I bought for Chinese and Taiwanese green tea because I hardly ever use them. Once I found a suitable gaiwan set, I now prefer to use that method all the time. That doesn't mean that others who want a large quantity of tea at one time should throw away their infuser mugs. I usually prefer brewing smaller quantities of tea, but this has developed over a period of time. When I first started, I looked for large cups. Now I look for smaller ones.

[MadeForTeaVea]

It's rather sacrileges to speak of, but I also find matcha to be quite tasty when added to milk with a bit of honey to sweeten (really, just a little...) and a bunch of ice cubes...

This is grounds for being permaband. Haha I kid, I kid. I get so aggravated when pretentious tea snobs tell others that they are enjoying their tea wrong. I'm personally kind of a purist when it comes to my tea but I got no problem with people doing whatever they want to enjoy their tea.

I think people get to caught up in the formality of tea and forget to actually sit back and enjoy it. I say, throw caution to the wind and do what makes you happy.

Right on!

I think that was the point made by Hidehisa of Magokorodo. The aristocrat's tea ceremony is expected to be very formal and has a rigid set of rules, but at home just do as you please and enjoy the freedom and flexibility.

There's some things I don't like to do but others may find them to be convenient. I just packed up and stored my infuser mugs I bought for Chinese and Taiwanese green tea because I hardly ever use them. Once I found a suitable gaiwan set, I now prefer to use that method all the time. That doesn't mean that others who want a large quantity of tea at one time should throw away their infuser mugs. I usually prefer brewing smaller quantities of tea, but this has developed over a period of time. When I first started, I looked for large cups. Now I look for smaller ones.

I think this idea of the teetotaler that is pretentious and snobby turns so many people away from tea. Much like a lot of different cultures, it's the patrons who are the most detrimental to the cause.

That's the whole basis of my tea videos on youtube. I try to show how super simple and welcoming and enjoyable tea can be. And I'm trying to break away from some of the stereotypes. I would really like to see the tea culture in America really expand, and I don't think that's going to happen until there has been a paradigm shift in already established tea culture here.

But that's a rant for another day. But I agree. There is a time and a place for tea tradition and ridged rules but there is also a time to forgot about them all too. Finding peace and enjoyment in tea is my number one goal. Sometimes this means going through all the steps to make a nice cup of tea and sometimes this means making a whole pot of tea.

[zencha]

New York House-made cold-infused teas from India, China and Taiwan, and iced matcha (Japanese powdered green tea) are on offer at a new pop-up shop in Soho from veteran tea importer In Pursuit of Tea .
http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Crosby_Store_s/197.htm

[britt]

Finding peace and enjoyment in tea is my number one goal. Sometimes this means going through all the steps to make a nice cup of tea and sometimes this means making a whole pot of tea.

Well stated. I find tea can help me to relax. I'm also becoming quite flexible in my preparation of matcha. After my original post, and due to a continuing heat wave, I started throwing in ice cubes. I drank matcha this way three or four times a day during the especially-hot two day period. Last night I actually made two quick infusions of sencha and dumped them into a large matcha chawan filled with ice. Now that it's finally cooled down I'll go back to making my matcha the conventional way.

[britt]

New York House-made cold-infused teas from India, China and Taiwan, and iced matcha (Japanese powdered green tea) are on offer at a new pop-up shop in Soho from veteran tea importer In Pursuit of Tea .
http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Crosby_Store_s/197.htm

After trying matcha iced I'm becoming somewhat addicted to it. I stopped "pre-cooling" the chawan but I do use very cold water and I now add ice. I don't keep milk or sugar on hand, otherwise I might have even tried that!

[MadeForTeaVea]

New York House-made cold-infused teas from India, China and Taiwan, and iced matcha (Japanese powdered green tea) are on offer at a new pop-up shop in Soho from veteran tea importer In Pursuit of Tea .
http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Crosby_Store_s/197.htm

After trying matcha iced I'm becoming somewhat addicted to it. I stopped "pre-cooling" the chawan but I do use very cold water and I now add ice. I don't keep milk or sugar on hand, otherwise I might have even tried that!

I'm out of matcha right now but first chance I get I'm going to try this cold brewing method. It sound interesting.

[britt]

New York House-made cold-infused teas from India, China and Taiwan, and iced matcha (Japanese powdered green tea) are on offer at a new pop-up shop in Soho from veteran tea importer In Pursuit of Tea .
http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Crosby_Store_s/197.htm

After trying matcha iced I'm becoming somewhat addicted to it. I stopped "pre-cooling" the chawan but I do use very cold water and I now add ice. I don't keep milk or sugar on hand, otherwise I might have even tried that!

I'm out of matcha right now but first chance I get I'm going to try this cold brewing method. It sound interesting.

I drank so much of it during the hot spell that now I'm almost out too!

[kymidwife]

I am so easily corrupted.

Just finishing a delicious iced matcha... as non-traditional as it gets in preparation, but happily consumed from my most senior Hagi yunomi to give a traditional balance to the event. I used my Ninja blender, cold water, Kiri no Mori matcha from O-Cha, and ice. It made a lovely froth and the taste was sweet and delicious.





Sorry once again for the crappy iPhone photos and the orange reflections of my walls! But the crackling of my Hagi photographed nicely.

Sarah

[britt]

I am so easily corrupted.

Just finishing a delicious iced matcha... as non-traditional as it gets in preparation, but happily consumed from my most senior Hagi yunomi to give a traditional balance to the event. I used my Ninja blender, cold water, Kiri no Mori matcha from O-Cha, and ice. It made a lovely froth and the taste was sweet and delicious.

Ah, you cheated and used a blender! Maybe I'll try that next although whisking with cold water was much easier than I thought it would be, maybe more so than when using hot water.

You have a very nice Hagi piece to enjoy you're iced matcha with (by Deishi?). I like the crackles on the inside. Warning- Hagi can be very addictive! I've been drinking my iced matcha and iced sencha from a large Seigan blue Oni-Hagi chawan.

[kymidwife]

Ahh yes, this was my first of quite a few Hagi pieces... addiction, grrrrr. I think I have 3 kyusu, 2 chawan, and at least 14 yunomi/small wans... oh, and the gyokuro set... and I'm probably leaving something out. LOL. But this piece (yes Deishi) is a favorite, and has aged more profoundly and more quickly than any other Hagi piece... but in fairness it has also been used much more often.