Japanese Green Tea concierge has teamed with The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO), along with tidying expert, best-selling author, and Emmy-nominated television star Marie Kondo as our campaign spokesperson and some of your favorite lifestyle influencers, starting with actress Nikki Reed (The Twilight Saga), to introduce you to the wonderful world of Japanese green tea.

These unsettling times — i.e., a global pandemic and rising unemployment — are leaving many people feeling anxious, stressed out, and unsure of the future. There is a newfound, and quite profound, need to hit pause, slow down, and get back to a simpler and more mindful way of life. This is where Japanese green tea comes in. It’s not just a cup of tea - it’s a way of life that can help you on your journey to a simpler you.

Marie Kondo considers tea an essential part of her life, philosophy, and path to mindfulness. The host of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo regularly prepares ceremonial Matcha as a way to find calmness within and enjoy a moment of solitude. In Japanese, it’s called “mushin,” which means to empty the mind of negative thoughts so you can become more receptive to inner calmness and positivity.

So, sit back, relax, grab a cup of tea, and let us take you on a journey to simplify you through the world of Japanese green tea.

Chances are if you’ve been to a coffee shop, you’ll find green tea, jasmine green tea, or Matcha on the menu. But, there is much more to green tea than that. In fact, there are about 20 varieties of green tea and, fun fact — almost all tea grown in Japan is green tea. They are differentiated by either the growing methods, timing of the tea leaves’ harvest, or processing methods. Here are five of the most common types of Japanese green tea:

Bright green Matcha is the powdered tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s also known for its culinary versatility as it’s been used in ice creams, pastries, and other sweet treats. The tea leaves are grown in the shade before being picked, steamed, roasted, and stoneground into a powder. It contains high amounts of caffeine and theanine, making it the perfect morning brew to give you calm, lasting energy for the day.

Also known as Jade Dew or Pearl Dew, Gyokuro is one of the highest grades of Japanese green tea. It’s grown in the shade, which suppresses the generation of catechins from amino acids resulting in a light, smooth tea with a surprising amount of depth. It also contains a good amount of caffeine (which stimulates the brain and nervous system) and chlorophyll (which stimulates tissue growth that helps make skin healthy.).

This is the most popular green tea typically found at Japanese sushi restaurants and coffee shops. It's made by the most common processing methods where the leaves are steamed and rolled to produce crude tea. It’s rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. It’s a great tea to drink throughout the day or at night.

Hojicha is made by roasting Sencha or other types of green tea to give it a savory aroma. Since it’s low in caffeine and tannin, its mellow flavor and mild strength are favored by children and pairs well with both savory and sweet dishes.

Genmaicha translates to “brown rice tea” because that is how it’s made. Brown rice is soaked, steamed, roasted, and popped and then mixed with green tea — typically sencha. The result is a sweet full-bodied, toasty, and nutty tea ideal to drink after eating greasy or deep-fried food. Being low in caffeine makes it a wonderful tea to drink at night to relax.

Most people — well, most Westerners at least — think preparing a cup of tea consists of just popping a store-bought tea bag to boiling water, and voila! You’re tea-ing. Not so fast. There are several different ways to prepare and drink tea depending on the type of tea.

We have two recipes to share with you. This first is Marie’s favorite routine - preparing Japanese green tea the traditional way which she learned from her grandmother, a tea ceremony teacher. Marie says it helps to calm and clear her mind and simplify her life through practicing mindfulness. It’s a way to appreciate the moment either for yourself or with company, while practicing being present.

Supplies:
• Ceremonial-grade Matcha
• Matcha whisk (chasen)
• Kettle
• Tea bowl (chawan)

Optional: Tea scoop (chashaku)

“Close your eyes and take a deep breath to check in with yourself," advises Marie. This is the aforementioned "mushin" we told you about. "When you allow the mind to quiet and empty, you become more receptive to inner peace and positivity," she adds.

Add 2 scoops of Matcha into your bowl, then use the scoop to smooth out the powder. Tap it twice on the edge to remove any excess Matcha. Add about 4 ½ tablespoons of hot, but not boiling, water and whisk in a “W” shape until the powder is thick and creamy.

Take a moment to appreciate this wonderful drink that you just made. This is a time to take in the beauty of the bowl and the color of the Matcha and pause for reflection.

The second method we want to share is tea enthusiast Nikki Reed’s recipe for cold brew Japanese green tea. Simply take a pitcher of cold water and add two scoops of Japanese green tea leaves. Leave it for 3-6 hours in a refrigerator and voila! Cold brew Japanese green tea. You can also add some mint leaves, honey, and/or lemon for more flavor. Preparing the green tea with cold water actually helps dissolve theanine easily which helps to calm your mind and bring you focus.

Check this space in the coming months as we dive deeper into the world of Japanese green tea and introduce you to some of Japan’s passionate tea farmers. We’ll be taking a look at everything Japanese green tea has to offer for our lives, bodies, and minds, as well as give you a peek into the lives of the people who make it all happen - the Japanese tea farmers.