The Perfect Pairing of Japanese Tea…And Food…
Japanese Tea Compliments the Fresh Flavors of High-Quality Seafood...
If you want to optimize your seafood experience, especially your Japanese Seafood experience, try pairing your meal with some Japanese teas known for their qualities as a perfect pairing…
We know that complementing food with an appropriate beverage leads to enhanced culinary delight. You may be most familiar with the concept of pairing wine with certain foods (see this article from The Wine Cellar Group), but we don’t often take advantage of - or maybe even know about - the opportunity that awaits us with tea. We can expand our palate by exploring the complementary nuances of many Japanese teas when enjoying meals…especially seafood, and particularly, of course, Japanese Seafood.
But what are the best foods to pair with Japanese teas? Here are a few examples of Japanese teas that we think will greatly enhance your culinary experience:
Kukicha - A blend of steamed Japanese green tea and the veins of Tencha leaves, the tea used to make Japan’s most exclusive whole-leaf tea, Gyokuro. Gyokuro is considered too good, or too high a grade, to have with food, as one should focus only on the quality of this fine tea, without muddying the flavors. Kukicha, however, is a perfect selection for complementing seafood, with salt-umami flavor and marine characteristics.
Houjicha - A blend of tealeaf and stem particles that have a final processing step of roasting, bringing out a character of burnt sugar and notes of deep caramel. This tea produces a sweet, amber broth unlike a typical sencha, but maintains a distinct Japanese identity. During the application of heat when roasting, caramelization occurs, imparting the enchanting roasted aroma to this tea.
Imperial Jade - Japanese sencha plus roasted rice with Matcha added. This selection is not only one of the most healthy, power-packed teas one could have, but the savory qualities of this special blend make this selection the perfect pairing with any seafood…especially sushi or sashimi. Imperial Jade celebrates the delicate flavors of fresh fish, covering the palate with an earthiness that provides a great backdrop for highlighting mild flavors. Prepare yourself for a culinary treat if you plan to enjoy your next Japanese meal with Imperial Jade.
Matcha - This stone-ground tea is normally whisked into water, creating a green foam broth head and a broth rich in bioactive compounds. Matcha is a concentrated, intense beverage packed with aroma and taste. Matcha makes a perfect companion for sweet treats, cakes, and pastries. In fact, Matcha has quickly made its way into mainstream popularity as an ingredient in many different kinds of sweets and beverages.
Once you experience the harmony of the right tea paired with a quality seafood dish, you will find direct similarities with the concept of a perfect wine selection. Adding tea to your mealtime experience is by no means prohibitive! Having wine or sake on the table along with the tea and food will not be a distraction at all, but rather a complementary enhancement to the complete experience.
Each weekend, we host a tea tasting that covers a different topic. Our Japanese tea tasting - A Taste of Japan - dives into the teas above and more. We welcome attendees to bring their Japanese food selections to try with the six teas we will be serving…Register here.
Find our complete selection of Japanese teas here.