187 Tasting Notes
oh this tea is a delightful surprise!
first brew: 6 oz of water at 160. very subtle, but very flavorful, if that makes any sense. it’s got a lot of flavor, but like, the volume is turned way down.
second brew: 6 oz of water at probably 180 ish, a little longer. ooooh, flavor turned up a wee bit! delish!
third brew: 6 oz of water at just off boiling – about the same as second steep, although flavors have changed from “YUM” to “huh, now it’s a lot less sweet and perhaps a little … salty?”
overall, really like this unusual tea – definitely one to linger over, not to try to slam, as the quietness of the flavors are conducive to a slow exploration, not a wham bam thank you ma’am slurping. the dry leaf is crazy looking (and beautiful!), but smells rather MEH which is probably because it’s the gentle steeping that finally draws out the flavors. i recommend this tea, although i don’t believe i’d re-stock. not that i’d say no if someone sent me some.
Preparation
oh yes, this is a good travel mug tea. make sure you get a stainless-lined travel mug, i notice too much plastic in the plastic ones. at ANY rate, as someone else noted, not my favorite genmai cha in the world, but quite nice for an afternoon spent on wifi at the rec center, waiting while the kiddo was doing his lego club thing. quite nice. i will be restocking once i’m done with this box.
oooops. if you don’t have the patience to wait the whole 30 seconds to steep this, it’s not quite as good. STILL LIKE A 95, but not the golden 100 it usually is. well, i guess i’ll have to make another…
Preparation
had 3 steepings of this first thing this morning – man, this is some tasty brew. i’m not the biggest fan of black tea, i mean, it’s ok…. but this one? delish. had the third steeping with a spoonful of sugar and some milk, just to see, and although i quite enjoyed that cup, i really liked it better without, which is unusual for me.
i had been saving my second packet of this for a special occasion. well, yesterday, my March steepster box arrived, so what better way to celebrate than with my last February tea!
I adore this tea. everything people don’t seem to like about it – smells like dirt, tastes too strong, etc., i LOVE IT! i surely wish they had a purchase link, i have no idea where this came from and i want more. ah well. faretheewell, favorite houjicha in the world!
yeah, i had to go order more. this one is particularly delicious and creamy and perfect.