Oolong + Shochu = Yes Please!

Last night we had a special R&F outing to the mecca of Japanese Ramen, Ippudo. While eagerly anticipating my savory bowl of noodles, I glanced at the cocktail list. Under the Sake/Shochu list I found a 'Green Tea High' and an 'Oolong High'. I had no idea what these were but I knew one was definitely going to accompany my dinner. I learned from the server that the drinks consisted of tea and a shot of shochu. I ordered the Oolong version and while I waited for it, a fellow diner explained that shochu is a distilled alcohol usually made from barley, buckwheat, sweet potato, or rice.  

The drink was incredibly refreshing on a hot NYC summer evening. I tasted the slightly bitter earthiness of the Oolong, along with a subtle hint of something smoky that reminded me of whiskey. Shochu has a subtle flavor, and so my drink didn't have the overwhelming alcoholic taste that I usually expect from a cocktail. This makes the drink quite dangerous for me. I hardly even noticed that I was consuming any alcohol! It had a similar refreshing feel to the mugicha I recently tried.  I also love that it wasn't sweet. In fact, the server warned me that it wasn't a 'sweet cocktail'.

This drink is typically called Oolong-Hai (I guess Ippudo made it more obvious for us Americans), and is popular at izakaya and karaoke bars in Japan.

If I'm ever able to snag a table at the immensely popular restaurant again, I will try the 'Green Tea High' to see how the Shochu changes the taste of the tea.

Kusmi Tea sampler

Recently a dear friend gave me a surprise gift of a lovely sampler from Kusmi Tea. So thoughtful! I admit that I've avoided their teas because many are flavored, which is not my favorite thing. I also had a disappointing experience with one of their bagged teas, but I think it was past its use-by date. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I had to give them another chance. The idea just hadn't bubbled up past my daily preoccupations. But now I was presented with a perfect opportunity.

After reading the ingredients listed on each tin, I selected the St. Petersburg blend for my first pot. Sniffing the leaves there is citrus, bergamot and vanilla. It's very sweet and pleasing, but I was a little worried about the predominance of bergamot. Steeped, the brew has a lovely smooth vanilla caramel flavor. I was happy that the citrus flavors were delicate and mostly in the background. Definitely better than the in-your-face BERGAMOT flavor I was expecting after smelling the dry leaves. Not something I'd drink on a daily basis, but a sweet, refreshing change from the bold and malty black teas I'm most fond of. I bet it would also make a nice iced tea.

The company has an interesting history starting in Russia then fleeing to Paris. I'm also a sucker for packaging, so I of course love the sweet little tea tins. Kusmi teas are sold in a few cafes and shops in my area, and the American flagship is here. I will have to make a journey in the near future.

I can't wait to try the other teas in my sampler, and hopefully share a pot with my friend that gave them to me. I am so thankful to her for the gift! It has opened my mind to the possibility of trying other flavored teas, and to delve further into the many varieties offered by Kusmi.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor

Weaving through throngs of tourists on the narrow streets of Chinatown, I can feel the history of struggle, violence, and intrigue seeping through the soles of my shoes. The feeling gets stronger as you turn onto Doyers street, a thoroughfare infamous for violence and ill repute, even referred to as a 'cesspool of immorality'. I love the history behind NYC, and Chinatown's narrative has been particularly fascinating. And of course tea is an important element of daily life in this part of town.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been a Chinatown institution on Doyers street since the 1920s. It started out as a bakery and tea parlor, known for their Chinese confections and dim sum. It is a place to go for Yum Cha, which is the dining experience of drinking Chinese tea and eating dim sum. The restaurant had a makeover last year and has become a destination for foodies and dim sum aficionados. A Tea Parlor with great history and dim sum? When Yosh O. made this the latest Ramen and Friends destination, I knew I had to attend.

I had been to Nom Wah once before, prior to the renovation. My husband and I were taking an audio tour and were instructed to sit down and order 'tea and almond cookies'. I remember enjoying both, in a restaurant that felt like a time capusle. The exterior of Nom Wah has remained the same, and the interior has kept much of its charm, with some minor updates. The tea menu immediately grabbed my attention. The prices are very affordable, and the selection is good. They offer a choice of pu-erh, oolong, green, and white, a surprisingly nice list. I ordered a pot of Shui Hisen (Water Fairy Tea). It is described as a dark and heavy oolong. With some research I discovered that this tea is very popular in Chinese restaurants, although I don't think I've ever had a version as good as this one.

The tea came in a huge pot with leaves swimming inside. The pot was more than enough for 3-4 people. I was nervous that the tea would get bitter with the leaves sitting directly inside for the duration of our meal, but the tea remained smooth. It is a hearty, strong brew, with a nice roasty flavor that is quite satisfying. It had a faint floral taste as well, which adds to the pleasant experience. This tea paired quite well with the many dishes of tasty dim sum we consumed. It was also a perfect accompaniment to the famous almond cookie I had at the end of our meal.

I can't wait to return to Nom Wah and try something new. This is a great spot to escape the chaos of the neighborhood, and linger over a pot of tea while munching a few dumplings, or a crunchy almond cookie.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor: 13 Doyers Street NY, NY 10013- Recommended
Highlights: affordable Chinese tea, dumplings, almond cookies

Steep Thoughts: The 'Why Not Tea?' Edition

Today my husband helped me realize a growing problem in my life- restaurants that I love, but do not offer tea of any kind. I suppose a non existent tea is better than bad tea. But when I'm out for a tasty, satisfying meal, I always want a cup of tea to round everything out.

One of my new favorite restaurants, Danji offers Korean style dishes with an added twist. I've loved everything I've tried there. On our most recent visit, I was wondering if they had any Korean tea, but didn't see any tea at all on the menu. After confirming this with the server I became disheartened. This is a restaurant that has an amazing alcoholic drink menu, but no tea. There is a huge opportunity for some lovely Korean tea! At least they don't offer coffee, either.

Has anyone out there encountered this problem with a favorite restaurant? I'm guessing the owners of Danji did this on purpose, but I would love to know why. Am I expecting too much?