The supreme method of preparing and tasting Gyokuro tea is called 'Susuricha' - slowly slurping the tea using a Susuri cup. Gyokuro with its mild sweetness and subdued astringency is considered one of the highest grades of tea in Japan. It steeps at a low temperature and is consumed very slowly to savor its unique and rich flavor. Our Susuricha tea comes in convenient 5 g-bags which equal one Susuricha serving.

Please click on the pictures below for close-ups and detailed instructions.
1. Fill Yuzamashi (cool off vessel) to the blue line and let the water cool off to about 40 degrees (about the temperature for a hot bath).	2. Insert about 5 g of Gyokuro ( 1 tbsp.) into the Susuri cup (vessel with lid). One bag of MaikoTea Susuri Gyokuro contains exactly 5 g!	3. Pour the cooled off water (40° C / 104° F) from the Yuzamashi into the Susuri cup. Note: Please do not pour directly on the leaves but into the space surrounding the leaves! Wait for about 2 minutes. The color of the tea will change into a clear, bright-green.
4. Now your Gyokuro is ready to drink! (upper part of image) Put the lid on the Susuri cup but keep a small slit facing your body. Hold your thumbs close to the center of the lid. Now lift the cup high above your mouth; you should actually be facing the ceiling while slurping the tea through the open slit of the Susuri cup.	5. Repeat the steps 1, 2 and 4 for about 4 times as long as the tea yields a tasty flavor. After the second steeping decrease the time of steeping.	6. Since it is "mottainai" (waste) to throw away used up leaves after infusions, please look up our methods to recycle leaves after infusions. Link
Next to Susuricha Gyokuro you can also enjoy other Gyokuro tea with this Susuri set.

Yamashita's Gyokuro

Gyokuro