Biwa tea has been drunk since the Edo period (1603-1868) and is now enjoying a small boom.
Winter has come to an end and we are beginning to feel the enviable spring. When we think of seasonal food, autumn may come to mind, but spring also offers a wealth of seasonal foods. Bamboo shoots, rape blossoms, new potatoes, bonito, cherry sea bream and many other colourful spring foods are available, and although they may be a little inconspicuous amongst them, the fruit loquat also comes into season in spring. Although the seeds are large and there is not much to eat, the sweet and moderately moist texture of the fruit is a taste that cannot be replaced by any other fruit. In fact, the loquat is not only a delicious fruit, but its leaves can also be used to make a delicious tea. In addition to being very gentle to drink, loquat tea contains health-giving ingredients and is becoming increasingly popular with everyone from small children to the elderly, to help keep them healthy.
One type of tea that can be drunk at any time of the day, morning, noon or night, and regardless of age, is loquat tea. Among these, Nejime Biwa Tea is a highly health-oriented biwa tea made with the aim of ‘being a tea that can be safely guzzled at the dinner table every day’.
Some people may not be familiar with loquat tea, but in fact it is a drink with a long history, having been consumed by the common people since the Edo period. Biwa leaf tea vendors appeared in Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo), carrying box loads of the drink through tenpyo sticks and walking from town to town. It seems to have become fashionable to drink a decoction of loquat leaves blended with nikkei (meat cinnamon), kanzo (liquorice) and other herbs, as it was good for the hot weather.
The reason it has been drunk for so long is also because of its health benefits.
Contains polyphenols that keep you young
About four times more than wine or coffee.
The greatest feature of Nejime Biwa tea is its polyphenol content. Compared to red wine and coffee, which are generally said to contain high levels of polyphenols, it contains about four times as much. Polyphenols are recognised for their anti-ageing effects, such as skin beautifying and blemish prevention. The polyphenols contained in Nejime Biwa tea have been proven to increase the silencing effect and flush out accumulated grime.
One of the best things about biwa tea is that it is caffeine-free. It is safe to drink for everyone from children to the elderly. It can also be drunk during relaxation before bedtime and will not disturb sleep.
Can be boiled or simply poured over hot water
Simple, easy and infusing
Biwa tea is easy to make: boil 1 litre of water and 1 biwa tea bag in a pot, then simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. You can either remove the leaves at this point or wait until the tea has cooled down to produce a delicious loquat tea. The time you leave the leaves in is up to you; the longer you leave them in, the thicker the loquat tea will be. You can also drink it more easily by simply putting a loquat tea bag in a 250 ml mug and pouring hot water over it. This is recommended for a quick drink when you are busy.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
By Admin|2024-04-24|News Release,|