During the summer months, we would like to invite a few guests to join us in the early hours to an Asacha (a morning tea ceremony). We plan to start at around 8.00 am. We will be putting some water into the garden just before our guests arrive, so there will be an idea – and a look - of coolness, even if the day is going to be hot!

Although I like to drink a cup of hot green tea in summer, but I do also like cold gyokuro and sencha tea as well. That can be so refreshing. For that we use 5g of tea leaves for 250 ml of water in a tea pot, using ice-cold water. I usually wait 20-30 minutes for it to brew properly.

To choose the most delicious tea, we have variety of the very best gyokuro from Kyoto, as well as Yame Japan:

Mare : from Hoshino, Seicha Yame, £53 for 50g (Award-winning gyokuro tea)

Hien : from Hoshino, Seicha Yame, £38 for 50g

Ippoen : from Ippodo, Kyoto, £48 for 50g

I hope you enjoy a cup of cold gyokuro tea!