Ippodo Tea - Logo Style Stacked
Pouring Ippodo green tea from above frmo ivory clay banko-yaki kyusu teapot into glass carafe with lid removed for storing
Brewing |

How to Make Japanese Tea to Share

Written on January 02, 2022 (updated on March 02, 2023)

It’s lunch, and a group of friends are over. You’re just about to sit down to eat, but you don’t have anything to drink!

Japanese green teas-sencha, gyokuro, genmaicha, and hojicha- pair really well with all sorts of lunches, from sandwiches to stews; burritos to bowls of salad.

Pick your favorite aroma, and with a kettle of hot water, you can have a pitcher full of tea ready to serve in about 3 minutes.

Recipe for Sharing (Gyokuro or Sencha)

Makes one pitcher
1. Measure the leaves
2 tbsp. (10 g / 0.35 oz)
Add tea leaves to a kyusu or teapot.
Silver tablespoon filled with dried rolled Ippodo premium Japanese green tea leaves with
Silver tablespoon filled with dried rolled Ippodo premium Japanese green tea leaves with
Recipe for Sharing (Gyokuro or Sencha)
1. Measure the leaves
2 tbsp. (10 g / 0.35 oz)
Add tea leaves to a kyusu or teapot.
2. Add boiling water
240 mL (8 oz) 100°C (212°F)
Pour boiling water to cover tea leaves.
Pouring hot steamy water from stainless steel tea kettle into brown clay side-handle Japanese Yakishime Kyusu on wood table
Pouring hot steamy water from stainless steel tea kettle into brown clay side-handle Japanese Yakishime Kyusu on wood table
Recipe for Sharing (Gyokuro or Sencha)
2. Add boiling water
240 mL (8 oz) 100°C (212°F)
Pour boiling water to cover tea leaves.
3. Brew
30 seconds
Brew without stirring or disturbing the tea leaves.
Pouring hot steamy water from stainless steel tea kettle into brown clay side-handle Japanese Yakishime Kyusu on wooden table
Pouring hot steamy water from stainless steel tea kettle into brown clay side-handle Japanese Yakishime Kyusu on wooden table
Recipe for Sharing (Gyokuro or Sencha)
3. Brew
30 seconds
Brew without stirring or disturbing the tea leaves.
4. Repeat and serve
Pour out every last drop into a pitcher. Repeat steps 2-4 (with zero seconds brew time) until the pitcher is full.
Serve to your guests.
Pouring green tea from above from brown Yakishime clay kyusu teapot into large glass carafe with white Ippodo Tea engravings
Pouring green tea from above from brown Yakishime clay kyusu teapot into large glass carafe with white Ippodo Tea engravings
Recipe for Sharing (Gyokuro or Sencha)
4. Repeat and serve
Pour out every last drop into a pitcher. Repeat steps 2-4 (with zero seconds brew time) until the pitcher is full.
Serve to your guests.

Recommended Teas

Refreshing, brisk, green: Nichigetsu Sencha

Classic Japanese green tea with a balanced, medium body.

White packaging with brown faux-painted details for Nichigetsu refreshing Japanese Sencha green tea 80g bag by Ippodo Tea Co.
Nichigetsu - 80g Bag
Medium & Snappy
$18

Misty, soft, green: Tekiro Gyokuro

Smooth green tea with depth. Less sharpness and astringency than sencha.

White packaging bag for Tekiro Gyokuro by Ippodo Tea with grey pointillism teapot and red writing and designs
Tekiro - 50g
Light & Smooth
$23

Soothing, hearty, appetizing: Genmaicha

Popular fragrant blend of green tea and roasted rice.

White and blue simple packaging and Japanese characters for Ippodo Tea Co. Kuki Hojicha roasted bancha green tea stems
Genmaicha - 100g
Light & Soothing
$13

Roasted, malty: Hojicha

Unique roasted green tea with a satisfying fragrance.

White simple packaging with Japanese characters for Ippodo Tea Co. Gokujo Hojicha roasted green tea leaves and stems
Hojicha - 100g
Light & Sweet
$15

Recommended Utensils

Hakuji Kyusu

An original Ippodo design, this kyusu teapot produces a delicate, refined taste.

Front view of sleek refined snow white glazed porcelain symmetrical shape Japanese Hasami-yaki kyusu teapot
Hakuji Kyusu (Hasami-yaki) - 10oz
For Loose Leaf Teas
$100

Glass Carafe

Medium sized vessel with a lid for serving tea at any lunch table.

Carafe
Carafe
For All Leaf Teas
$39

Ippodo Tea - blending teas that deserve to be rebrewed

As a Japanese tea specialist established in Kyoto three centuries ago, we blend and produce each of our teas with experience and high standards of quality.

Since our tea leaves have endurance, you can rebrew them three times without sacrificing flavor. Between each brew, peek inside the pot—if it looks like the tea leaves have not fully opened up yet, you can even try brewing a fourth or fifth time.

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

Latest Blog Posts

Browse all articles 
Picture of leaves of green tea plant sprouting upwards towards the sun in front of blurred ombre green background
Brewing |

Get Ready: Shincha 2024

Crafted from tea leaves that were growing in a field only a few days prior, Ippodo’s Shincha is delivered right after harvest. There is only once chance per year to experience its fresh, fleeting character.
Small plate with sample of Ippodo Obukucha tea with roasted rice beside teacup of brewed tea and brown clay Yakishimi kyusu
Brewing |

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.

Iribancha, Kyoto's Daily Tea
Brewing |

Iribancha, Kyoto's Daily Tea

Iribancha is surprising for many trying it for the first time, given its strong, smoky fragrance.