O-Cha Kagoshima Shincha Yukata Midori

Yukata Midori/ YM for short is definitely a classic O-Cha offering, and I can not wait to taste this Shincha. I am an affiliate of O-cha because I like their teas and feel Kevin did a great job introducing a wide variety of Japanese teas to the English speaking market. I almost feel without him peoples exposure too Japanese greens would be limited almost to a more regional type setting. Not to mention the fact that I love the massive amount of information provided on the web page of each tea.

Wow this has a wonderful aroma, it is actually so very very sweet, it smells almost like a candy. The taste while mellow is nice and round with hints of hearty grains, and nuts, but its also got the natural sweetness of a carrot.

It feels good to be back into a more regular life style for now, and today I'm rather over indulging on tea, in the past 3 hours, I've had Matcha, and I'm on my second Shincha. (I felt in a rather Japanese tea mood today).

With a cat roaming the grounds,

the birds sound alarm.

Drink the tea with the moment,

and enjoy life for its subtle charm.

--Adam Yusko.

Green Tea - For Your Health

O-Cha Kirameki Asamushi Shincha

Now that it is basically summer, I can fully embrace spring. It has been hectic starting with finals, and working its way through Graduation. But I now own a very expensive piece of paper, and am moving on with my life.

I have been looking forward to trying this tea ever since I ordered it, and the wait was quite long as it arrived at my house about 3 weeks ago, but I only arrived here on Tuesday evening.

I do not know what made me more anxious to try this tea, the fact that I have a new Hagi Kyusu which only works well with Asamushi sencha, or the fact that this tea is quite talked about from repeat O-cha customers.

The first time I had this tea it did not disappoint, and I am hoping it will not today either.

The dry leaf smells potent, almost grassy and slightly nutty. I do not think the picture will do the first infuions color justice, its clear but almost toxic green in color (at least it appears that way in the blue cup). The aroma is quite nice nutty and buttery.

I went a little ligher on leaf this time, and it is still good. I recommend going heavy on the leaf if you want a very strong umami profile, but at a .6g per oz its like a refreshing soup with hints of umami and dare I say bok choy?

There are teas I try and say I want to order again, though part of this blog is about tea exploration, so I often try many different teas (though I do have favorite vendors), but as such I do not think I have ever placed an order for the same tea twice, but this is definitely on a buy list for next year.

The green grass is constantly growing,

while the days still have the cooling breeze.

Summer is quickly approaching,

but we welcome it with fresh spring teas.

-- Adam Yusko

Green Tea - For Your Health

Bulang, Lao Man Er

Well I'm anxiously awaiting the release of Spring Semester grades, so I decided to pass the time while working through more Puerh Regions. It was nice and rainy yesterday and quite cloudy today, a good day for puerh in my opinion (or just about all teas).

Both of these are the Zhi Ming Du offerings.


Bulang

5.8g 60ml gaiwan.

Initially in the aroma I notice the powdery floral almost tropical aroma puerh is known for this one is a bit more on a powdery side of things. The taste is decidedly like a mild citrus but rather smooth.

When making this one a bit stronger it comes out a bit on the unpleasant side, more so than is typical with a puerh in my mind.


Lao Man Er

5.3g 60ml gaiwan

Mmmm, this one is much more on the floral side with the aroma, with hints of fruits, but really no sign of the powder I pick up in other young shengs. With this I have to say that a taste is definitely there, but it seems much more ephemeral as if always on the edge of perception with it hard to pull into the center and concentrate on it.


I'll be the first to admit, I'm not as good with young sheng as some people, and I am starting to feel it I think another one or two would be trouble so I'll cap it off at 2 today.

I would consider these two cakes rather different, and I'm not really sure which I prefer as they are both completely different. But in terms of casual brewing the Lao Man Er never really got unpleasant with longer steeps.

Revisit 1996 Chung Cha #7432

I revisited this tea here. I found it much better than I remember it, but from the first infusion I gather that it really was the same tea, and it was only through changing my brewing drastically that it really settled down and was quite nice for me.

That being said, lesson learned, never be scared to change out of typical brewing parameters for a certain type of tea.