An article from the Hydrangea Wiki of the Hydrangea World Ullmann – all about special hydrangea species, their history and care.
The legend of Buddha's birth and the hydrangea tea "Amacha"
Gautama Buddha was born on April 8, 446 BC. According to legend, the earth shook at his birth, and flowers and sweet tea rained from the sky: Amacha .
This sweet tea comes from some hydrangeas of the subspecies Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb. ex Murray) Ser. ssp. serrata (Thunb.) Ser., also known as mountain hydrangea . It is one of the original species of bigleaf hydrangea and is known in Japan as the tea hydrangea .
Amacha – Tradition and Preparation
On the Amacha festival day, to commemorate Buddha's birthday, temple servants brew Amacha tea and distribute it to guests. It is consumed and taken home—and is even said to possess magical powers. During the Edo period (1600–1868), large areas of these tea hydrangeas were planted around monasteries.
The leaves are dried in the sun using traditional methods, then slightly moistened and fermented for 24 hours , which significantly enhances their sweetness. Gentle storage at 20–25°C for a few days also produces similar results.
Harvest time & processing
As with camellia teas, young leaves are the most nutritious. The best times to harvest the top leaves are:
- June to July (before flowering) from semi-shaded plants
- alternatively: August to October (according to other sources)
The tips and flowers also contain sweeteners. To celebrate Buddha's birthday, the tea from the previous year is usually used.
Taste and ingredients
A single leaf is enough for one cup. Brewing time and water temperature are a matter of taste. We found the tea tasted best after 40 seconds in 80°C water. Steeping longer results in a stronger sweetness. There's definitely room for experimentation.
The substance it contains is phyllodulcin , which is said to be 250 times sweeter than sugar, and according to other sources, even 600-800 times sweeter .
The Japanese probably knew this even before making tea, using it to sweeten food and drinks. Originally, amacha was also boiled into syrup and used as a sweetener.Other ingredients: tannin, but no caffeine and – unlike other hydrangeas – no toxic glycoside hydrangin .
Healing effects and uses of tea hydrangeas
Amacha tea is said to have healing properties :
- Antiallergic
- Antibiotic and antifungal
- Promotes healthy scalp
- Protects against hair loss
- Supportive in periodontitis
The variety 'Oamacha' – recommended and hardy
Herb expert Daniel Rühlemann from Horstedt tested various varieties and found that many had a bitter aftertaste despite their sweetness. He particularly recommends the 'Oamacha' variety, which is sold as an ornamental plant, as it is characterized by its sweetness without a bitter aftertaste.
Location & Care
Planted in the garden is 'Oamacha':
- hardy after light protection in the first winter
- slow growing (up to 1.20–1.50 m height)
- Shrub with beautiful purple foliage in autumn
- the fertile flowers are blue
- sterile violet-pink marginal flowers
As a so-called forest hydrangea , it feels particularly comfortable in partially shaded, light-flooded locations.
Note on the legal situation
Amacha is not currently approved as an official sweetener or food in Germany. Therefore, use at your own risk.
Hydrangea care
Further tips on care, overwintering and, for example, blue colouring of hydrangeas can be found under Care Tips from the Hydrangea World Ullmann .
Reference: This article contains excerpts from a publication by Matthias Riedel on the occasion of the VII Hydrangea Show at the Zuschendorf Castle in 2012.