Kakuzo Tea Infused Vodka. Vodka with tea infusion of Sencha, Keemun, and Assam, spicy and slightly malty, 40% ABV, 700 ml – from Berlin.
Kakuzo Tea Infused Vodka is a tea-infused vodka from Berlin: quintuple-filtered, multi-distilled vodka in which a tea blend of Sencha from Japan, Keemun from China, and Assam from India has been steeped – spicy, slightly malty, with honey and citrus, 40% ABV, 700 ml. Not a tea liqueur, not an flavored party vodka, not an iced tea with a kick – a reddish-brown vodka that works on ice, in long drinks, and, according to the manufacturer, even served warm.
Tea Infused Vodka by Kakuzo is the product the Berlin brand started with; the manufacturer also calls it Earl Grey Vodka. A tea-infused vodka is a vodka in which tea leaves have been steeped. The finished spirit absorbs the color, tannins, and aroma of the tea, similar to water when brewing – only here, alcohol does the work. According to Kakuzo, the dosage and steeping time of the tea, as well as the temperature and alcohol strength of the vodka, determine the result. Bartenders have always prepared such tea infusions themselves, bottle by bottle behind the bar. At Kakuzo, the idea comes pre-bottled, according to the manufacturer. Imagine a Friday evening: a long drink glass full of ice, 5 cl of vodka, topped with bitter lemon, and a grapefruit wedge. The first sip brings citrus, followed by the black tea, which leaves a tart finish.
Spicy, slightly malty, honey and citrus – and the tannins of black tea on the finish
The vodka tastes pleasantly spicy and slightly malty, with notes of honey and aromatic citrus fruits – this is how Kakuzo describes its tea blend. It contains three varieties: Sencha, a green tea from Japan, plus two black teas: Keemun from China and Assam from India. The malty note characteristic of Assam gives the vodka body; Sencha keeps it fresh. The finish retains what a strongly brewed black tea has: a dry, slightly tart note of tannins.
The base is a vodka that is quintuple-filtered, multi-distilled, and, according to the manufacturer, very smooth – smooth enough to carry the tea instead of masking it. It is vodka, not a liqueur: 40% ABV, and the sweetness is a honey note from the tea, not a layer of sugar. Those who want to experience the same tea blend clear and floral rather than tart should reach for the Organic Dry Gin: there, the tea is included in the distillation as a botanical, whereas here, it steeps directly in the vodka and releases its color.
On ice, as an Earl Grey Lemon with bitter lemon – and even warm, according to the manufacturer
On ice in a tumbler, the vodka shows its tea character most clearly: the cold removes the sharpness of the alcohol, and the black tea remains. It is a spirit with 40% ABV; sales are restricted to persons aged 18 and over.
The manufacturer's signature long drink is the Earl Grey Lemon: 5 cl of vodka in a long drink glass filled with ice cubes, topped with 10 cl of bitter lemon, stirred gently, and garnished with a grapefruit wedge. Those who prefer something shorter should shake an Earl Grey Sour: 5 cl of vodka, 2 cl of lime juice, and 1 cl of agave syrup shaken vigorously over ice, then strained into a tumbler filled with ice. And then there is the recommendation that distinguishes this vodka from all others in the home bar: when enjoyed warm, according to Kakuzo, the aroma of the tea unfolds in its full depth – a small glass, gently heated, on an evening in November.
Store in a cool, dark place.
Our tip: For the Earl Grey Lemon, lightly squeeze the grapefruit wedge over the glass before dropping it in – the oil from the peel brings out the citrus notes of the tea and balances the tannins on the finish.
From Berlin, developed in a bathtub – how two bar-loving friends brought tea into the bottle
Kakuzo is a Berlin brand from Paul and Marc, two friends who explored the city's bar scene back in their school days and have traveled extensively through Asia since. In Berlin bars, they saw how cocktails took on new directions through homemade tea infusions – and wanted to put the result into a bottle. After experiments in their own bathtub, the recipe was finalized in 2017, and the brand has been around since about 2018. The tea vodka was their first product; Yuzu Gin Liqueur, Cherry Bitter, and Organic Dry Gin followed later.
The name honors the Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzō. In 1906, with "The Book of Tea," he explained Japanese tea culture to the Western world, connecting Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and the art of tea preparation. For Paul and Marc, he is the inspiration and namesake; their claim is "Formed by Time." The tea blend of Sencha, Keemun, and Assam is their own composition. The manufacturer does not specify the distillery or the type of grain used for the vodka; what is confirmed is the tea blend, the filtration, and the Berlin headquarters. The label is adorned with mythical creatures from Far Eastern folklore – the fox spirit Kitsune, the long-nosed Tengu, and a tea-leaf samurai as the brand mascot.
For the home bar, for tea drinkers with a penchant for bars, and for everyone who feels plain vodka doesn't tell much of a story
The tea vodka is the bottle for everyone who has previously dismissed vodka as a neutral mixing base. For the home bar, it is the vodka that brings its own story to a long drink; for tea drinkers, it is the bridge from the teapot to the tumbler; and as a gift, it is an idea for people with a penchant for Japan. Its clear sister is the Organic Dry Gin, and the red one is the Cherry Bitter based on the same vodka; you can find all four bottles on our Kakuzo page, and other spirits in our Spirits category. This vodka is not suitable for those looking for a clear, flavor-neutral vodka that remains invisible in a drink – this one has color, tannins, and tea on the finish.
Sencha, Keemun, and Assam in quintuple-filtered vodka, spicy and slightly malty, 40% ABV – the Tea Infused Vodka from Kakuzo in Berlin for an Earl Grey Lemon, a glass on ice, or a warm evening.
