Ippodo Tea - Logo Style Stacked
Small porcelain teacup containing fresh green tea beside asymmetrical stone vase with blooming branch of cherry blossom tree

Enjoying Tea Under Cherry Tree Blossoms

Written on March 02, 2023

With the springtime comes the beloved blossoming of cherry tree flowers in Japan. In Kyoto, where Ippodo Tea was founded, after the bonds of winter loosen, these flowers transform the city into a pink wonderland.

It is a tradition to have a picnic with friends, family, or co-workers, under the boughs of these trees on a warm spring day. On the spacious banks of the Kamo river that runs through central Kyoto, many of our staff like to hold their own picnic, and will set out tarps every year to relax under the beautiful blossoms.

While gazing at the flowers and chatting, we eat snacks and drink tea. This simple tradition makes us feel refreshed and renewed each year.

If the weather allows it, why not invite some friends to enjoy tea outside with you this season? While enjoying the view of a beautiful flowering tree, relish the fresh, soothing, and warm feeling that sharing tea with others provides.

Here we have gathered our favorite teas that we find convenient and delicious at a picnic in the spring.

One-pot Tea Bags

These large size tea bags are handy for preparing enough tea to share with everyone. Add one or two to a pitcher with hot or cold water, and serve after the tea has developed a rich color. Available in six choices. For this season, we recommend:

One-cup Tea Bags

Single-serving tea bags are perhaps the most convenient of tea when outside. Bring a thermos with hot water and cups, and let everyone brew their own cup of hot tea. stay warm, in case a sunny day suddenly turns to clouds and wind.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more interesting content on Japanese tea.

Latest Blog Posts

Browse all articles 
Green tea being poured into glass from white porcelain Hakuji Kyusu teapot beside plates of chocolate cupcakes whipped cream

Tea & Chocolate

At Ippodo we often suggest chocolates to pair with teas like matcha, sencha, gyokuro, and bancha. And, occasionally we will feature a tea with a chocolate dessert in a special menu in our tearooms.

Verdant green smooth and thick koicha Ippodo matcha in tilted black artisan-crafted ceramic tea bowl and coating the sides

Koicha, for a Next-Level Matcha Experience

Koicha ("thick tea") is a style of preparing matcha with a thick density. True to its name, a properly-made koicha has a consistency somewhere in-between maple syrup and warm honey.

Small plate with sample of Ippodo Obukucha tea with roasted rice beside teacup of brewed tea and brown clay Yakishimi kyusu

Featuring Obukucha, Our New Year’s Genmaicha

There is a long tradition of drinking Obukucha in January in Japan to bring good fortune in the coming year.