Emma Celebrate Hanami with a Sakura Steamer
It’s Hanami time (flower viewing) in Japan and the season for all things sakura flavoured. It’s not something that has travelled to the West, although I’m sure we all love cherry blossom (I’ve even got a tattoo I like them that much!). Sakura time means that Starbucks etc create sakura inspired flavours on their menu, or you can buy ice cream, sweets, anything that can be flavoured will be flavoured with sakura.
I bought my preserved sakura in Japan when we were there last year, however, you can get them online such as at Sous Chef As this doesn’t have any real coffee in it, or caffeine, this is technically a steamer. This recipe is easy to make if somewhat time-consuming. All you need is some preserved sakura, hot water and hot milk.
Start by assembling your materials.
Cups for serving
bowl for soaking the sakura
strainer
milk frother or a pot for heating milk
teapot to make sakura tea
Pick out 6-8 flower heads and place approx 2 tablespoons of hot water on top of the flowers in a bowl.
Let the flowers soak for around a minute to remove the salt. Remove the flowers and chop roughly, stalks and all.
Add the chopped flowers to a teapot, add hot water and soak for between 30-60 minutes.
Strain the blossom from the water and reheat the tea. Add your now reheated tea to your drinking cups. Heat up some milk and add to the cups.
Recipe: Sakura Steamer
Ingredients
- Serves 2
- 6-8 preserved sakura flowers
- 240 ml boiling water
- 240 ml milk
Instructions
- Boil water.
- Place the preserved sakura in a small bowl and add 2tbsp of the water to the bowl.
- Let sakura steep for 1 minute to remove the salt.
- Remove the flowers from the bowl.
- Chop the sakura roughly.
- Place flowers in a bowl or teapot and cover with the rest of the hot water.
- Let the flowers soak for 30-60 minutes.
- Strain the pulp.
- Reheat the sakura water.
- Pour into two cups or tea bowls.
- Heat milk and add to the tea mix.
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