About Mizudashi

Mizudashi, the art of making cold-brewed tea, has a very special place in Japanese tea culture. This poem in liquid unfolds with surprising complexity, presenting the smooth, multi-faceted flavors of tea infusion in an incomparably invigorating form. The art of mizudashi is to steep tea in cold water rather than hot, resulting in a delicate yet expressive aroma that is subtle yet profound.

The term "mizudashi" is made up of the Japanese words "mizu", meaning water, and "dashi", meaning to draw out. It is a method that is often used during the hot summer months in Japan to emphasize the cooling and refreshing properties of the tea. By steeping the tea leaves in cold water for several hours - typically two to six - special aromas are released that would not come to the fore with the hot infusion method. This procedure prevents the extraction of bitter substances and tannins, which would otherwise be dissolved in large quantities in hot water, and at the same time allows the sweet and full-bodied notes of the tea to come to the fore.

In the practice of Mizudashi, mainly green teas are used, especially those of the highest quality such as Sencha or Gyokuro. The process begins with the selection of a finely ground tea leaf that is remarkably fresh and vibrant. These leaves are placed in a tea bottle or jug of cold, preferably filtered water to avoid any flavor distortion. The slow extraction phase results in an infusion that is not only aromatically rich, but also visually captivating - a cool, almost ethereal green that distils the essence of the tea in the utmost purity.

The cosmic tranquillity of a carefully prepared Mizudashi is an experience that appeals to all the senses and encourages inner contemplation. In its sublimity, Mizudashi represents a mirror of Japanese culture, which reveres harmony, closeness to nature and the search for the essential. The process seems simple, but it requires a high degree of understanding of the properties of the tea leaf and the optimum water temperature ratio.

You can use this infusion, which is highly valued in Japan, to slow down the hectic pace of everyday life and enjoy a taste experience that unadulteratedly reflects the essence of the leaves. In the simplicity of Mizudashi, the deep wisdom of the tea unfolds, the balance between calm and vitality, a poetic connection between water and leaf that tells infinitely more than the sum of its parts.