Kelp tea is a tea made from kelp.It is called konbu-cha[1] or kobu-cha[2] (昆布茶, meaning "Kombu-tea") in Japan, haidai-cha (海带茶) in China and dasima-cha (다시마차) in Korea.
Varieties
Japan
In Japan, konbu-cha or kobu-cha is kelp tea made by pouring boiling water into chopped edible kelp (kombu) and leaching or pouring hot water into powdered kelp.[2]
Kelp tea for fortune
The tea served on New Year's Day and at weddings is sometime kelp tea[2] because the pronunciation of kombu is similar to that of the last part of "yorokobu" (喜ぶ, meaning "be happy").[2]
In particular, in New Year, oo-buku-cha or dai-buku-cha (大福茶, meaning "very good fortune tea"), which is sencha green tea with kelp and umeboshi,[4] is drunk in Kansai region[4] wishing good health and happiness.[4]
Instant kelp tea
Powdery kelp tea is sold as an instant tea under the name of konbu-cha[1] or kobu-cha[2]. It is made by drying kelp to a fine powder and blending it with seasonings such as salt and sugar[2]. It's simply dissolved in hot water and enjoyed as a tea. Note that this type of konbu-cha does not contain any true tea (Camellia sinensis).[5][6][7]
The powdery kelp tea was invented by the founder of GYOKUROEN "Umazou Fujita" in 1918.[1]
Ume-konbu-cha[1] or ume-Kobu-cha,[8] which is powdery kelp tea added freeze-dried crushed umeboshi, is also sold as an instant tea[1] and is drunk as a tea in the same fashion.
History
Kelp tea is thought to have been drunk from quite a long time ago[2] because "the Japanese have incorporated kelp and seaweed into their diets for 1,500 years".[2][9]
It is said that, in 951, Kūya made a statue of the Ekādaśamukha to cure an epidemic that was spreading in the capital and went around the city giving oo-buku-cha to the sick.[4]
Tea using kelp already existed in Edo period (1603-1868) at the latest,[1] and people in these days drank it by pouring boiling water over chopped kelp.[1]
Korea
Either dried kelp powder or julienned kelp can be used to make the tea.[10]
Powdered tea can be made by pan-frying and pounding cleaned and dried kelp.[11] For a cup of hot water, two to three spoons of kelp powder is used.[11] Optionally, sugar or honey can be added.[11]
Alternatively, around 30 grams (1.1 oz) of cleaned kelp pieces are infused in 300–500 millilitres (11–18 imp fl oz; 10–17 US fl oz) of hot water.[12] The kelp slices are removed after infusing, and salt is added to taste.[12]
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