Archive for the ‘culture’ Category

Thank you, Tea Flowers!

Camellias are now in bloom in Portland, Oregon! Did you know that the tea tree is in the same family with camellia, called Camellia Sinensis? Just like regular camellia, tea trees also have flowers. It is said that tea tree flowers are a bit blander than camellia, and they bloom around October in Japan. You […]

matcha and yuzu

Yuzu Matcha

A slice of yuzu peel adds a nice refreshing aroma to a shot of matcha, just like an espresso with lemon peel. You can find yuzu at your local Asian market at this time of year, or a Meyer lemon can be a nice substitute. Add a bit of sweetness to bring out the umami […]

yuzu sencha with yuzu

Yuzu is in season, so is Yuzu Sencha!

We happen to have a yuzu tree in our yard and now is the harvest time! Yuzu tree has big, sharp thorns, so we have to be very careful when picking the fruits. Yuzu in Jugetsudo’s Yuzu Sencha is from Kochi prefecture, the No.1 yuzu producer in Japan! Enjoy the zesty green tea to celebrate […]

Roast your own hojicha

Roast Your Own Hojicha

If you have expired sencha in your pantry and are wondering what to do…just roast it! Put the old sencha in a clean pan (no oil!) and roast it over moderately high heat. Constantly move the tea with a wooden spoon and shake the pan in order not to burn the tea. When the smaller […]

genmaicha with camelia

Genmaicha–why rice in tea?

Genmaicha is green tea with roasted brown rice. It has a unique, nutty flavor–almost like popcorn. It is very comforting and getting popular among tea lovers these days. But why rice in tea?! Who put rice in tea first? There are several stories, one of which is that a tea merchant in Kyoto put pieces […]

sencha asa 1

Morning Tea Brings You Fortune…

We are often asked why Jugetsudo’s sencha has the word “asa” on its packaging. “Asa” means morning in Japanese, and it is believed in Japan that a cup of green tea in the morning brings you good fortune. There is even a saying that goes, “Go back home to have morning tea despite the seventeen […]

sencha with camellia

All Teas are from the same plant…

Camellia is blooming now. In Japan, there are two kinds of camellia –sazanka 山茶花 and Tsubaki 椿。They look quite similar, so it’s hard to distinguish. They are both used for flower arrangements 茶花 at the traditional tea ceremony.  Rikyu 利休, who perfected the Japnaese tea ceremony in the 16th century, said the flower arrangements at the ceremonies should look natural, as if they […]

jugetsudo ginza kabukiza

When in Tokyo…

Here is the video of our cool mother ship in Tokyo! When you have a chance to visit Tokyo, never miss this place and try the tea ceremony experience! And LIVE JAPAN PERFECT GUIDE is a great website to know about Japan’s sightseeing spots, activities, food and shops, etc. Check it out when you are […]

yuzu sencha on the winter solstice

The Winter Solstice

December 21st is the winter solstice, a day with the longest night hours of the year. The winter solstice is a day that is observed widely in Japan on the 22nd of December. The solstice, commonly referred to as “To-ji”, is celebrated by taking hot baths with yuzu citruses and eating dishes containing pumpkin. These […]

Poetic Imagination in Japanese Art at PAM

Tea Tasting at Portland Art Museum

We are going to have another tasting event on Saturday, November 17th, 11am-3pm at Portland Art Museum. That day happens to be Miller Family Free Day! Yes, free admission! There will be calligraphy and ikebana demonstrations, music performances and more! You can taste our organic green tea: sencha (classic green tea), genmaicha (green tea with […]