The Season for Cold Green Tea!

The heatwave hit Japan hard the rain season earlier this year. Parts of Japan reached temperatures in the high 30s, and it is definitely not what I look forward to in the Japanese summer.

One thing that really helps me fight the heat and cool me down during the hot weather in Japan is to have some cold green tea down the throat in the middle of the heat. The lovely thing about green teas is that they are perfect when served hot or cold, and getting a big jar of cold brew stocked up in the fridge at home and another at work is one of the most refreshing things I find nowadays.

I really like using green teas from Shizuoka for their unique bitterness. Perhaps it is the same reason why people like goya (bitter melon) -- I find the bitterness an essential part of the drinking experience as it lingers in my mouth longer and cleanses my taste buds of the damped, gross moisture that the summer humidity brings. Compared with other green tea that comes and goes at an instant, Shizuoka green tea definitely has an edge as a cold healthy drink.

The tea I have been drinking recently is the Shogun's tea. This tea enjoyed by the famous Tokugawa Ieyasu ranks quite high in my taste for Shizuoka green tea for its complexity. Its flavour is so strong that I can be more conservative in the amount I use and still get great results. You can find out more here:

https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Jackson/Go46b-food

Speaking of healthy, the fact that it is completely natural and contains no sugar means I can take big gulps at a time with absolutely no guilt. Unlike soda which I am conscious about the tens of tea spoons of sugar per bottle I am putting into my system, or the hot green tea which is simply too hot to chug and is meant to be sipped on, cold green tea goes down like a cooling waterfall, and I can feel the heat in my body getting neutralized as I drink up a glass before pouring myself another (straight out of the fridge, no need for ice!)

By the way, I have also written an article about how much money you save by making cold brewed green tea at home vs. buying bottles at the supermarket. Take a look and it might inspire you to save some money this summer!

https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Jackson/G6Zql-food_shopping_money_tea_shizuoka

I do recognize that many people make mugi-cha, hoji-cha or even oolong-cha for the summers and periods of hot weather and, personally, I find myself coming back to green tea over the black tea every time. The fact that it has since built up to be a seasonal habit speaks volumes to how much I enjoy them in a hot season. Hopefully, you will give cold green tea a try and let it be of your company throughout the next summer!

This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.