How to use Shizuoka green tea for cocktails!

Hi everyone!

In this article, I would like to share with everyone my thoughts on homemade green tea cocktails. More specifically, how the cocktails change if you use Shizuoka green tea!

I have been using Shizuoka green tea as a mix in several recipes, and some I have shared in the past already. Sometimes they are used with alcohols that suggest green tea as a mix, but more often, I just like to experiment with different drinks I have at home. I like using green tea more than water and club soda because green tea is more versatile. You can make the tea as strong or weak as you need it to be, and they are great both hot and cold. With all that, however, the most crucial point is probably the fact that it makes me feel like I am in Japan!

However, I REALLY like using Shizuoka green tea because of its unique flavor. It has this profound aroma that gets me excited before I even start drinking. What is more important is that the Shizuoka bitterness always adds a level of depth that pre-mixed drinks cannot compare with. It stands out in such a way that no matter what type of alcohol I have used before to pair with the tea and at whatever ratio, the tea will always find a way to go “hey, this is delicious thanks to ME!”, but definitely in a much more polite way, haha.

For that reason, when I make Shizuoka green tea for the purpose of a fun Friday evening, I usually use 20% more tea leaves than I would for straight tea, and I make sure to let them sit for an hour or two. It lets the tea come out while cooling it down. Before taking the tea out, also get a tea spoon and squeeze out whatever is left in the tea. The condensed base will for sure take your cocktail to the next level.
In general, I think the more fruity type drinks make a good mix, just use green tea instead of whatever flavor-less or sweet liquid you were going to use. Your friends will be surprised!

If you are making a warm or hot cocktail, however, I find that a short quick brew of 3 to 4 minutes does the job perfect. Instead of the 70C temperature packages usually suggest, I re-boil the water to near 100C so that the drink comes out hot, and use the alcohol to cool it down. Particularly, I really enjoy mixing umeshuu (plum wine) with green tea at a 1:1 ratio. If you have never tried that, I would suggest you enjoy yourself this winter!

Any Shizuoka tea would work. Recently I have been back to using the Farmer's Green Tea that I have reviewed before. It is a good quantity for the buck, and I find the flavor to be extra strong, which works great for mixing drinks.


Here is my review!


https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/neko/wXk24-food_tea_shizuoka

Mix it your way, and let me know if you have any recommendations!

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.