Den's Tea
Edit CompanyPopular Teas from Den's Tea
See All 91 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
I’ve been drinking a lot of the 2011 Shincha version of this Bancha Suruga and have to say I am very impressed. It has a hearty herbaceous flavor that stands up well to drinking alone, or pairing with food. The brisk and lightly astringent character sets it apart from the more delicate Senchas, and it has a pleasant umami flavor that remains even when cooled. Inexpensive, high quality and medium complexity. Highly recommended.
Preparation
Ah, one of my favorites!
The Fukamushi Sencha Yame from Den’s has been one of my favorites since I first discovered “real” Japanese green tea. It can occasionally be bit tempermental if brewed a bit too hot from the outset (or [in this instance] brewed a little too thin), but I know I can always count on it for a quality cuppa green.
I thought I was almost out of this tea, but I dumped the remainder of my tin onto the scale this morning and saw “18G.” Alright! With ~3 good pots left, I decided to skim off 6G and toss it in my ~350ml kyusu for a big pot of morning tea.
After brewing the first up (165*/ 90 secs), I realized that I should have added a couple more grams to the pot — I love the full-bodied, slightly thick nature of this tea when it’s closer to a 1:1 ratio. Still, I very much enjoyed the mild, kelp-y sweetness that I can squeeze out of this tea when I brew it at a lower temperature from the start.
Once I finished my second cup, I noticed that my tongue still feels soft and smooth, with lingering fruit-y notes that stuck around for afterwards. Mmm! I don’t notice any bitterness or astringency until my 3rd and 4th steepings (both over 185*), but you can easily remedy that by starting about 10-15* hotter in the beginning.
Preparation
I just tried the bagged version of this tea from the Den’s Tea novice sampler. I think I like it even more than Den’s regular genmaicha; it’s a bit sweeter, I think, and so flavourful. I’m on the second infusion, and although there isn’t really any matcha in the second cup, it’s still very good. I think I’ll be going for the extra green next time I order genmaicha.
I tried this once again, again with better results. The first infusion wasn’t bitter (yay!), but I still wasn’t wild about it. Maybe this sencha just isn’t my cup of tea. The second infusion did come out bitter again, but I’m sure it was a steeping error again (water too hot, methinks). That was the last of my sample.
Preparation
Okay, so I tried again with somewhat better results. I have a feeling I still wouldn’t be overly fond of this tea even if it was brewed for me by an expert, though. It was still a bit bitter for my tastes and a bit too vegetal, especially on the second infusion. I would definitely like to try a high-quality sencha at some point, though.
Preparation
A couple ideas for you, to help reduce bitterness (or to find a tea that you enjoy more!):
How long was your 2nd infusion? If you find it too strong, don’t go more than 20 seconds! Also, try brewing it at an even lower temperature – 155 – 160F for 1 minute. Or, you can use less leaf – use 1 tsp leaf for 4 oz water (or up to 8oz more water, depending on your taste).
This tea is on the ‘daily’ end of quality, so other teas you might simply enjoy more:
-Guricha or Tamaryokucha (different name, same tea). Den’s carries a Guricha, and Mellow Monk’s Top Leaf is also one… they seem to be more fruity and have less chance of being bitter.
-Fukamushi – I recommend either Den’s Fukamushi Yame or O-cha’s Chiran Sencha. Fukamushi tends to be less bitter… just keep the brewing very short (45 seconds for the 1st infusion, 10 seconds for the 2nd).
Good luck!
Thanks for the ideas! My second infusion was 15 seconds. I suspect lower temperatures might be the key. Fortunately, Den’s Tea gives you such nice big samples, I still have enough for at least another try. :)
Cool… and if you still don’t like it, hey, sometimes teas are just like that. But yes, they do give very nice-sized samples, so it’s nice to have more than one shot at it.
I’m getting started on the novice sampler from Den’s Tea now that I’ve run out of matcha. (Sadness.) I’m glad there’s enough tea in the samples for more than one serving because I think my water was too hot for this one, which resulted in some pretty serious bitterness. I really need to get a proper thermometer so I can be a bit more precise.
Preparation
Strange thing about this matcha is that I make it with two chashaku scoops, but I don’t get a caffeine buzz (which is good)—just a little lift. I wonder if it will be like that for me with all matchas. I’ve heard about people bouncing off the walls while learning the Japanese tea ceremony, but I think they make it stronger than two scoops for that. I find it odd because I’m very sensitive to caffeine. Thoughts?
Love this stuff — it’s even better cold-brewed in a pitcher overnight! It can get super-sweet if you brew it with cooler water, but it’s a great deal for the price!
Thanks for this great suggestion! I tried this last night after seeing your post, and it really is wonderful. Amazing how the sweetness comes out through the cold brewing! :)