🍃 [Recipe] Simmered Shincha: A Subtle Celebration of Green Aroma
Hello, everyone 😊 This is Keko from the online team.
As we approach the end of summer and enter a season of quiet reflection, I’d love to share with you a recipe that transforms the fleeting freshness of shincha—newly harvested tea—into something to savor slowly.
Today’s recipe is not for a cup of tea, but for a dish.
We’re making a simple simmered "tsukudani" using shincha leaves—a traditional Japanese preserve that captures the green aroma and gentle bitterness of young tea leaves without overwhelming it with strong seasonings.
No sansho pepper.
No soy-cured boldness.
Just the subtle umami of tea—gently drawn out and wrapped in a delicate sweetness.
It’s a minimalist side dish, made by subtraction.
| 🌿 Ingredients (Makes approx. 300g) Shincha (fresh or steamed) 80–100g (well-squeezed) Light soy sauce 2 tablespoons Mirin 2 tablespoons Sake 1.5 tablespoons Sugar (light brown or white) 2–3 teaspoons Water 50ml |
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the tea leaves
If using fresh shincha leaves, blanch briefly in boiling water for 10–15 seconds, then cool immediately in ice water. Lightly squeeze out the moisture and roughly chop into 1cm pieces.
2️⃣ Simmer the base
In a small saucepan, bring water, sake, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar to a gentle boil.
3️⃣ Simmer the tea
Add the chopped shincha and simmer on low heat for about 5–7 minutes until the liquid reduces, taking care not to burn it.
4️⃣ Cool & store
Once the liquid is nearly gone, remove from heat and let cool. Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. Keeps for 4–5 days.
How to Enjoy
Spoon it over warm rice.
Pair it with chilled tofu.
Add a touch to a charcuterie board or onigiri.
The flavor is gentle and refined—subtle enough for a quiet lunch, yet full of character. Using high-grade aracha (unrefined sencha or gyokuro leaves) makes it even more aromatic and deep in flavor.
🌱 A Seasoned Moment
As summer wanes, this recipe helps us hold onto the memory of young tea leaves just a little longer.
Not with boldness, but with calm.
Not to impress, but to reflect.
Wishing you a peaceful moment at your table.