A classic brew of gyokuro is lush and dense with umami in every drop. Sip slowly, savoring the experience through the finish. The concentrated umami in the cup can feel as though it had been squeezed out of freshly-picked tea leaves. To get all the umami, make sure to cool the water sufficiently after boiling.
1.
Measure the leaves
2 tbsp. (10g / 0.35 oz)
Add tea leaves to a kyusu or teapot.
2.
Add hot water
80 mL (3 oz)
60°C (140°F)
Cool boiling water to 60°C by transferring 3 times.
3.
Brew
90 seconds
Brew without stirring or disturbing the tea leaves.
A boiling-hot brew brings out a vivid fragrance from gyokuro leaves. In the cup, this recipe has more a little crisp, refreshing astringency, on top of gyokuro's dew-like sweetness.
For a fast, fragrant pitcher of iced tea, brew a strong batch of gyokuro using boiling hot water, and then pour over ice, diluting its strength and balancing its flavor.