Amacha (sweet tea) - Amacha (English spelling) Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii

Japanese: アマチャ(甘茶) - アマチャ（英語表記）Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii

A deciduous shrub of the Saxifragaceae family, it is a variety of hydrangea. It has been cultivated in Japan since ancient times because of its sweet leaves. It is considered to be the same species as hydrangea macrophylla and hydrangea serrata. In summer, it produces large corymbs with pale blue or white decorative flowers with three to four petals around the edges, which is almost the same as hydrangea serrata. The decoction of the dried leaves is known as amacha, which has a sweet taste (it contains phyllodulcin) and is used as a drink. Since the Edo period, it has been customary to pour amacha on a standing statue of Shakyamuni on the Buddha's birthday on April 8th. This is based on the legend that when Shakyamuni was born, the Eight Great Dragon Kings rejoiced and rained nectar on his birth bath.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ユキノシタ科の落葉低木で，アジサイの1変種。葉に甘みがあるため古くから日本で栽培されている。ガクアジサイやヤマアジサイなどとも同一種とみなされている。夏に，大きな散房花序をつくり，その周辺部に淡青色または白色の3～4弁の装飾花をもつ点もヤマアジサイとほとんど違わない。葉を乾燥させたものの煎じ汁がいわゆる甘茶で，甘味 (成分はフィロズルチン) があり飲料に供する。江戸時代以後，4月8日の灌仏会に釈迦立像に甘茶をかける習慣があるが，これは釈迦生誕のとき八大竜王が歓喜して産湯に甘露の雨を降らしたという伝説にならったもの。

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