As the summer heat rises, there’s no better way to stay cool and refreshed than with a glass of cold brew Japanese green tea. Unlike the traditional hot brewing method, cold brewing offers a gentle extraction process that highlights the natural sweetness, umami, and delicate flavours of high-quality Japanese tea leaves. Whether you're lounging at home or hosting a summer gathering, cold brew Japanese tea is a simple yet elegant beverage that’s sure to delight.
What Is Cold Brew Tea?
Cold brewing involves steeping tea leaves in cold water over several hours, allowing the flavours and nutrients to infuse gradually. This slower extraction process creates a tea that is naturally sweet, smooth, and lower in bitterness. The result is a refreshing drink that perfectly captures the subtle nuances of Japanese green tea, making it ideal for enjoying during Australia’s warm summer months.
Why Cold Brew Enhances Japanese Tea
Japanese green teas, like Sencha, are particularly well-suited for cold brewing due to their rich flavour profiles and high quality. The cold brew process brings out the tea’s natural sweetness and umami while reducing astringency, which is often more pronounced in hot brewing. Additionally, cold brewing preserves the tea's antioxidants and nutrients, offering not just a flavourful drink, but also a healthful one.
Our Japanese green teas by YUGEN —Okumidori, Ujihikari, and Sencha—are perfect choices for making cold brew tea. These teas, sourced from Kyoto Prefecture’s lush tea-growing regions, offer a range of flavour experiences from deep and nuanced to bright and vibrant, ensuring there is a cold brew option for every palate.
Perfect for Summer
Cold brew Japanese tea is more than just a refreshing drink; it celebrates careful craftsmanship and flavour. The slow brewing process ensures every sip is infused with the delicate essence of Japanese green tea, making it an ideal companion for summer afternoons.
Our Favourite Cold Brew Tea Recipe
Making cold brew Japanese tea at home is incredibly simple and requires no special equipment. Here’s how you can do it:
Ingredients:
- 15g Japanese green tea (we are loving YUGEN’s Sencha as we write this)
- 750ml cold water
Instructions:
- Add 15g of your chosen Japanese tea leaves to a bottle or jar.
- Pour 750ml of cold, filtered water over the tea leaves.
- Cover and refrigerate for 3–5 hours, depending on your desired strength.
- Strain the tea leaves before serving or storing the tea in the fridge.
- Serve chilled, and enjoy the refreshing taste of cold brew Japanese tea!
This recipe yields a drink that’s perfect on its own or paired with light summer dishes.
Explore Japanese Green Teas at OKAERI
Our collection of Japanese green teas ensures you’ll have the finest ingredients for your cold brew creations. Focusing on curating a range of the finest single origin green teas, YUGEN emphasises the transparency of origin for all their tea products. With a primary focus on Kyoto and Uji tea, YUGEN provide the highest quality Japanese tea from across the country. Explore the collection and try a cold brew for yourself!