First Retaste. Douji Shangdou Mini brick 2008

So this is my first retaste, I only have a little over half of one of the Shangdou bricks left. It has been stored in Pennsylvania most of the time but rather inconsistent storage I must say, and not sure I know all the types of storage this went through, but for the past 6 months it has been sitting in a Metal Drawer, supposed to be used for Files, and no added humidity. But I like to think the humidity and temp have been kept reasonable as it is in my room and I make most of my tea in my room (a.k.a kettle boiling and issuing steam for 1-4 hours a day typically).

Both notes can be found here.

Ippodo Mantoku

This is one of their lower priced Gyokuro's which seems more expensive comparatively as the bags are 100 grams not 50 grams. The Dry leaf smells delicious, everything that I have come to like about Japanese Greens. One thing Ippodo themselves say is that this tea can take warmer water than typical gyokuro.

I think that is generally the case when it comes to less expensive gyokuro, it is close and closer to Sencha in nature and abilities.

In truth I am amazed at the strength of the umami taste in this tea, it seems to be bolstered by the extra tinge of bitterness. Though aroma leaves much to be desired.

It was much the same through the second steep.


But I want to say that this tea is an umami bomb, but it seems to have given up the ghost by the 3rd infusion, I'm going to try and give it a fourth.

Elation!

I do not usually write personal posts, but I felt the need to share this and I will try and relate it back to tea. I got accepted to Graduate school today, something I have been hoping for for quite some time, I will hopefully be working towards a Doctorate in Mathematics. So to celebrate I am having a the 1994 8582 from Hou De. Its a bit rougher than I remember, but I think aged puerh if it has the slightest hint of wet storage it is a hit to the senses unless you are used to it.

Wakamatsu-no-mukashi Matcha

From Tea

Another matcha from Ippodo, as they seem to be highly recommended by Matcha enthusiests, and this one comes highly recommended.

Its aroma is quite chocolaty with a hint of sea salt thrown in. The taste was great, like a slightly chocolaty cream. It was devoid of hints of bitterness, it seemed to only be smooth and velvet like.

A video of me preparing this Matcha is Available here.

From Hagi in Use