Steepster

One of the least favorite teas I ever received in a Steepster select box. Perhaps I received the “bottom of the barrel” scrapings, but the mere teaspoon sample in the pouch was not identifiable as any type of oolong. More like a musty mess of really poor grade leaves. I like earthy teas, but this really was sub par. Rethinking the cost of Steepster Select with the tiny size of samples recently.

From the Here’s Hoping TTB.

Dumped the entire thing in a tea pot and brewed Western style. Steeping times: 30 seconds, 30, 60.

It slipped my mind to take a note of the dry/wet leaf aroma…so no word on that. Oopsies.

The only other houjicha I’ve had was the bagged kind (pyramidal and big squares) when I was back in Kyoto a few years ago. Whatever it was, it was inexpensive. So this is my first houjicha of a better quality, and I like it. It has a flavor profile with unexpected notes and it evolves (kinda). The first infusion tastes mostly like barely tea with a hint of chocolate, the second of Raisinettes, and the third – at this point, the leaf has weakened – of plain ol’ houjiacha.

I don’t particularly like Raisinettes but if it’s my tea, sure why not!

I really liked this one. It actually did have a cotton candy smell or as the package says “spun sugar”. I steeped at a pretty high temperature and it still was not very bitter, in fact, slightly sweet on the palate. I almost gave this one away without trying it, but now I am glad that I kept it. Great balance!

First infusion: Incredibly flavorful. Light woody taste combined with a very strong honey. I also included “wet earth” which sounds unappetizing but this is mostly due to the liquor’s scent. Together the scent and taste feels like eating fresh honey in a spring forest after a light rain storm. Probably the most intense scent/taste combination.

Second infusion: Just as great as the first, less wet earth and more honey. Same amount of woody.

Third infusion: Once again excellent, muted earth and wood. Mostly honey left.

Fourth infusion: Very similar to the third infusion.

Fifth infusion: Slightly muted honey, I decided to call it quits after this infusion.

Probably my favorite oolong thus far. I am taking recommendations for anything similar to this since I can’t find any information on this specific tea.

This herbal tea nearly smells better than it tastes, which is saying something. I love everything about it, from the tang and deep red of the hibiscus petals to the naturally sweet-yet-tart flavor the fruits mixed in provide. My fiance and I barreled through our sampler of it very quickly.

The package says it can handle two resteeps, but the flavor really only held up for one. The third pot was lacking color and flavor.

A nice and sweet Japanese green, but nothing special to write home about. The sweetness isn’t as much as a new shincha or something, but it’s very pleasant.

Very nice shincha. Light and sweet, very delicate flavor.

So delicate! Not overwhelming at all. All the right notes in a springy balanced order, a spring chamber quartet in my mouth. Love it.

Smooth, grassy, and delicious. No bitterness at all.

a somewhat sweet but smooth green tea

when i smell the leaves and matcha dust dry, they smell green and grassy.

when i smell the leaves wet, they smell green and grassy too (intensified)

when i smell the brewed tea, it smells grassy and smooth

when i taste the brewed tea it smells nice, smooth and grassy :D

many thanks to toad thomas for this nice tea :)

a wonder full dragonwell! IMHO long jing is dragonwell

when i smell the leaves dry, they smell roasted for some reason.

when i smell the leaves wet, they smell nutty and like sweet grass

when i smell the brewed tea, it smells like sweet grass

when i taste the brewed tea, it tastes nutty and like sweet grass.

many thanks to toad thomas for this amazing tea :D

I really like this oolong. It’s roasted and charcoal with out being too much. Nutty, smooth and a little creamy. Yep this is a good one.
Thanks so much Sil for sharing…..

when i smell the leaves dry, they smell nice and smokey and like a pine tree

when i smell the leaves wet, they smell more intense :D

when i smell the brewed tea, it smells like pine trees

when i taste the brewed tea, it tastes like pine trees :D

i do note that the tea reminds me of basketballs

many thanks to toad thomas for this amazing tea!

Interesting, but probably wouldn’t buy again.

First steep (165, 1:30 min): More grassy and fresh greens in this cup.

Second steep (165, 1:30 min): More seaweed taste in this cup. My favorite steep.

Third steep (165, 1:30 min): Still viable but very watery, two steeps is probably enough.

This stuff is so good. I had to order some despite being determined to reduce my tea stash. I love finding something I enjoy without adding milk and sugar. It’s sweet on it’s own without being overly sweet. My new favorite at the moment, which is saying a lot, since I usually prefer black tea with milk and sugar.

I swear I reviewed this before, but the cupboard says I haven’t logged it.

This stuff is awesome. I love it so much. My favorite green tea ever. Absolutely no need to sweeten, the matcha gives it this perfect combination with the vegetal taste of the green and the smoothness of the matcha.

Must buy more…

this is a nice tea :) allthough i may not be much for japan teteas except when it comes to gokujo hojicha

when i smell the leaves dry, they smell grassy. :)

when i smell the leaves wet, they smell grassy and sweet.

when i smell the brewed tea, it smells sweet :)

when i taste the brewed tea, it tastes grassy and sweet and a lot like sencha :)

many thanks to toad thomas for this nice tea sample :)

this is an awesome tea :D

when i smell the tea dry, it smells sweet and like popcorn.

when i smell the tea wet, the smell is intensified.

when i smell the brewed tea, it smells sweet.

when i taste the brewed tea, it tastes sweet with a hint of popcorn

many thanks to toad thomas for this sample :D

Great sencha, probably my favorite tea in April’s steepster select package.

First steep (185, 1 min): Tastes like a vegetable medley cooked in butter. Very vegetal and buttery smooth finish.

Second steep (185, 1 min): Similar to first steep, much more toned vegetal flavor but the butter finish is still present.

Decent caffeine buzz.

I didn’t forget I had this one to sample. I’m still trying to get over the allergy/cold that won’t quit. I opened the packet and found that I could smell the vegetal goodness of the dry leaf and figured now was as good a time as any to try it out! The green leaves smell very much like fresh veggies to me. Thought I can’t place which veggies. Not a problem, as I think I’m going to like this one!

I will admit the first sip was like buttah! If you get the reference I’m very proud of you! In fact it reminded me more of a Gyokuro and less like a Sencha. Yup that’s how smooth this tea is. Yes, the steeped leaves smell good enough to eat. Though I’m not quite brave enough for that one! The flavors profile on this tea are SPOT ON. It certainly does taste very savory with a lovely buttery finish. I paired it with eggs and sausage this morning because, well why not. I must say this was not a bad choice at all. The flavors play so well together.

The short of it is this is a VERY good Sencha. As you know I’ve very picky about by green teas. But I would buy this one again…once I sip down at least twenty teas in my cabinet. I’m almost out of room and I have NO idea how that happened. Ok I totally know how that happened.

First steep (200, 2:30 min): Strong floral taste, on the verge of astringent so I may try this again with slightly less steep time. Standard black tea.

Second steep (200, 2:30 min): Lightly floral some peppery aftertaste.

Great black tea, floral seems to be common to most black teas but the peppery aftertaste really set this apart for me. Decently caffeinated, probably average for black tea. 9/10 would steep again.

First Steep (190, 2 mins): Lightly sweetened green tea yet very similar to an oolong.

Second steep (190, 2 mins): Barely noticeable sweetness, more traditional oolong flavor in this steep than green tea.

Definitely interesting, a green tea that tastes like an oolong. Light sweet aftertaste but very complex initial taste.

First infusion (180, for 2 mins): Very nutty, probably the main flavor I smelled and tasted. Slight floral after taste.

Second infusion (180, for 2 mins): Nutty flavor is diminished but still present. The floral flavor comes forward more in this steep.

This was my first genmaicha and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to trying more but unfortunately I will have high standards after this one.