ZEN TEA BREW Hosts Freshly Picked Tea Cooking Class at Kikugawa Marugoto Kitchen

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a cooking class using fresh tea leaves was held at 'Kikugawa Marugoto Kitchen,' a culinary facility in Kikugawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

ZEN TEA BREW, a DIY tea-and-alcohol cocktail kit brand (dozo Inc., CEO: Kohei Miura), organized this initiative in collaboration with nutritionists from the Kikugawa City Health Promotion Division. CEO Miura brought fresh new tea leaves picked that morning from a pesticide-free tea garden in Kikugawa, and participants worked together to prepare three dishes that allow for the full intake of catechins, theanine, and vitamin C.

This event was featured on NHK Shizuoka (e.g., 'Tappuri Shizuoka' and 'News Shizuoka 845' on May 20) and SBS Shizuoka ('LIVE Shizuoka' on May 20), demonstrating that the concept of 'eating tea, not just drinking it' is spreading from the tea-producing regions of Shizuoka.

Tea is More Than Just 'Drinking'—Morning-Picked Leaves on the Dining Table On the morning of May 20, CEO Miura picked fresh new tea leaves at a pesticide-free tea garden in Kikugawa and brought them to the kitchen that same day. The recipes were designed by registered dietitians from the Kikugawa City Health Promotion Division. Three dishes were served as fresh tea leaf cuisine that allows for the intake of nutrients without the loss caused by heating during brewing.

Recipe Details - Fresh Tea and Pork Porchetta: Tea leaves, almonds, and parmesan cheese rolled into pork loin and oven-roasted. - Asparagus and Green Tea Mayonnaise Saute: A Japanese-Western fusion side dish combining the bitterness of tea leaves with soy sauce. - Tomato and Onion Salad: Chopped fresh tea leaves used in a vinaigrette dressing made with vinegar and olive oil.

Comment from CEO Kohei Miura 'The leaves picked in the garden in the morning are on everyone’s plates by the evening. I believe this is a unique experience possible only in a tea-producing area. Kikugawa City is the birthplace of fukamushi (deep-steamed) tea and also famous for blueberries. We are currently working with the city on developing new tea products that combine these two. We plan to fully launch the promotion of fresh tea leaves as an ingredient next fiscal year, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with Kikugawa.' (Kohei Miura, CEO of dozo Inc.)

About ZEN TEA BREW ZEN TEA BREW is a DIY cocktail kit based on Shizuoka tea leaves. By soaking the dedicated tea leaves in your preferred alcohol, you can enjoy original tea cocktails at home. Backed by scientific evidence that alcohol extraction can increase catechin extraction efficiency by up to 140%, the brand embodies the concept of 'enjoying health.'