Tea Infused Delights: Exploring Japan's Innovative Snack Scene
Without a doubt, tea is Japan’s most popular beverage. But it's a lot more than that. Tea also plays a massive role in the country’s overall food culture due to its presence in tea-infused snacks and desserts. The deep connection between tea and snacks may have started long before the first tea ceremony. Today, modern innovations have taken this connection to new heights. We’re about to reveal key details of how tea is used in Japanese cuisine. Let’s get started!
The Origins of Tea in Asia
Tea (or ocha in Japanese) originated in China as far back as 2737 BC. During the Shang dynasty, Chinese people consumed tea as a medicinal drink rather than a recreational beverage. The first tea leaves were brought to Japan in the 8th century after delegates returned from a mission to China with several foreign practices, artifacts, and paintings. In 804, Buddhist monks visited China and returned with the first tea seeds.
Tea drinking became closely linked to Buddhism, and the perception continues to this day. Japanese nobles and members of the Imperial family also drank the beverage in the Heian period (794–1185). The Emperor Saga was a known lover of Chinese culture and an avid tea drinker. At the time, brick tea was the common form of the beverage.
A zen monk called Eisai is responsible for popularizing tea throughout Japan. He traveled to China in the 12th century and returned with new seeds for various temples. Eisai also wrote popular books about the beverage and introduced it to the samurai class as well as the upper class of Japanese society.
The 13th and 14th centuries came with the development of elements like the tea room and tea ceremony, in which the beverage was traditionally served. The technique of grinding tea leaves into powder (matcha) was invented in the 16th century in Uji. New forms of tea such as sencha were created in the Edo period (1603–1868). Most of the techniques used to make these powdered teas were done by hand, but today they are heavily automated and industrialized. Hence, people all over the world can now enjoy a wide range of quality green tea.
The Ritual of Japanese Tea Ceremonies
Tea ceremony or chanoyu, is a Japanese ritual deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism. It involves the ceremonial serving and drinking of green tea in a special room. The ceremony is as spiritual as it is cultural and relies on philosophies such as harmony, simplicity, respect, and tranquillity. Tea is not the only item consumed during these events. Traditional practices encourage pairing beverages with snacks and sweets, which are foods that have become heavily modernized. Contemporary snack makers often infuse green tea flavors into their snacks, particularly those created for the Asian markets. Due to the popularity of tea drinking and ceremonies in Japan, these confectionery brands have had to adapt their recipes to suit the unique tastes of consumers in the region.
Diverse Teas, Diverse Flavors
Before we get into the details about tea infusion and pairing in snack creation, we should explore the various Japanese teas and their distinct flavors. Below is an overview of the different kinds of tea in Japan:
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Matcha: This is simply powdered green tea and is the main beverage in tea ceremonies. It’s created by drying and milling high-quality tea leaves into green powder. Match tastes mellow, nutty, and slightly sweet, with a savory aftertaste.
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Sencha: This is the most common variation of green tea. It’s typically available throughout the tea season. Sencha’s initial taste is grassy and earthy, but it slowly evolves to slightly sweet and finally, savory.
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Hojicha: This is made by roasting green tea leaves until they turn reddish-brown. When mixed with hot water, it makes sweet-tasting tea with the aroma of warm caramel.
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Genmaicha: This is made by roasting brown rice grains and mixing them with green tea leaves. Genmaicha has a well-rounded nutty flavor.
- Kocha: Known as the Japanese black tea, this ingredient comes from the roasting of highly oxidized tea leaves. It’s not as strong or bitter as the other Japanese teas, making it a popular choice in Western-style cuisine.
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Gyokuro: This is a high-grade and exclusive type of green tea. Its leaves are grown under shade from the sun several weeks before harvesting. The meticulous harvesting procedure creates a sweet and umami-rich flavor and creamy texture.
Matcha: The Powerhouse Behind Green Tea Snacks
The mellow and earthy tastes of matcha have revolutionized snack making by providing an alternative to sugar-filled treats. Seen as the healthier option, people within and outside Asia can’t get enough of matcha-infused snacks and desserts. Its distinct flavor and bright green color can be found in at least one product from top brands like Hershey’s, Oreo, and Kit Kat. Today, matcha is both a traditional tea and a modern flavor. You’ll find it in cookies, chocolates, mochi (Japanese rice cake), and sandwiches.
Beyond Green: Exploring Hojicha and Sencha Snacks
Although matcha is the most popular green tea snack flavor in the global market, hojicha and sencha are also making waves in the snacking scene. Hojicha is often used in restaurants, bakeries, and confectionery shops to make cheesecakes, latte, bread, gingerbread, and muffins. Sencha has more applications in household kitchens, but you can find rare sencha-flavored food items such as almond nuts, parfaits, and chocolates.
Crafting the Perfect Tea Snack Pairings
While some people prefer their snacks infused with tea flavors, others like to do it the old-fashioned way and pair their tea with traditional snacks. The diverse flavors of these teas offer exciting opportunities to experiment with different complementary snacks for an enhanced experience. The following are suggestions of what snacks pair well with different teas:
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Hard biscuits (e.g., cookies and shortbread): Nutty-flavored teas like matcha and genmaicha.
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Plant-based seafood snacks (e.g., shiitake mushrooms and seaweed): Savory, high-grade teas such as gyokuro and sencha.
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Cheese-based snacks (e.g., cheesecakes and parmesan cheese): Matcha or gyokuro.
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Roasted nuts (e.g., almonds, candied walnuts, dried figs, and smoked pistachio): Hojicha.
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Traditional rice crackers: Kocha.
Innovation in Tea Snacks: A Look at Modern Creations
Innovative tea-infused snacks are emerging from Japan every year. Some brands have merged different teas into the same product, such as sencha and matcha. The use of green tea in ice cream is another relatively modern practice. Also, cafes and kissaten (coffee shops) in Japan now stock coffee blends and iced tea infused with matcha flavors. If you visit them during seasonal celebrations like the spring festival season, you can enjoy an afternoon tea infused with floral flavors such as cherry blossoms.
Health Meets Pleasure: The Benefits of Tea-Infused Snacks
Eating tea-infused snacks can be greatly beneficial to your health. They are rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols, which can protect the body from chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, and heart failure. The lower caffeine content in these snacks compared to other treats is also a huge bonus, as it regulates blood pressure, aids digestion, and reduces anxiety. If you would like to use green tea snacks in your weight loss diet, you should eat them with lemon juice.
The Art of Making Tea-Infused Snacks
Anyone can get the flavor of green tea into cookies, cakes, and other desserts. Most people who have tried it in a DIY recipe would tell you it’s hard to pull off. However, you shouldn’t encounter any problems if you use the tea-infused butter concept. We recommend strong and loose tea like matcha. Simply mix it thoroughly with unsalted butter and use it in any cake or cookie recipe of your choice. This will infuse your snack with both the color and flavor of the tea. Serve it with milk or clotted cream. You can also store it in an air-tight container, as green tea is very durable.
Popular Tea-Infused Snacks Among Locals and Tourists
People in Japan enjoy all kinds of tea-flavored snacks either by making them at home or buying them from confectionery shops, supermarkets, or convenience stores. The following are the most popular tea-infused snacks among Japanese locals and international visitors:
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Green tea chocolate: Brands like Japanese Kit Kat, Oreo, Lotte, and Meiji have produced successful lines of green tea chocolate products.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Matcha-flavored mochi: Matcha is one of the most popular ingredients added to traditional Japanese rice cakes, mochi. Kubota, Royal Family, Seiki, and other food companies have created modern versions of the treat that are quite popular in Japan.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Green tea cookies: People in Japan enjoy green tea-infused biscuits and wafers from brands like Glico Pocky, Meiji, Bourbon, and Sakuyama. These treats are often flavored with other ingredients, such as chocolate or strawberry.
A Gateway to Tea-Infused Snacks
You don’t have to travel to Japan or search dozens of stores to get access to quality tea-infused snacks from Japan. Bokksu Market offers some of the best treats from Asia at affordable prices. With our fast nationwide delivery, we’ll send you tea-infused snacks from all of the top brands we’ve mentioned in this post ASAP. We also sell green tea products that you can use to create a flavored meal.
The Future of Tea in Japan’s Snack Industry
These special types of snacks are still gaining traction outside of Japan. We expect them to become common worldwide in a few years as Asian food brands continue to expand into new countries. While most of these snacks are made with Japanese teas, we can expect to see them incorporate teas from other regions of the world, such as Australian white tea and Chinese oolong tea.
For now, explore the rich tapestry of flavors offered by Japan's tea-infused snacks. If you’re in the country, feel free to attend a tea ceremony and appreciate their cultural roots. You can also experiment with other modern culinary applications of tea and see which one you like the most.
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