I’ve been trying to limit my caffeine intake due to a persistent bout of insomnia, but it’s Christmas Eve and I decided to celebrate with this special tea. I steeped 3.5 g of leaf in a 355 ml mug using 195F water for 3.5, 5, and 7 minutes.
As Derk mentioned, the aroma of the dry leaves is very like that of a Darjeeling, with notes of honey, grain, citrus, muscatel, and flowers. The first steep has notes of passion fruit (which I probably couldn’t have named without Derk’s review), citrus, muscatel, raisins, honey, orange blossom and other flowers, malt, chilli leaf, tannins, and wood. The tea’s woody, slightly spicy, and floral profile persists into the second steep, though the passion fruit isn’t as noticeable and there are more raisin/muscatel notes. The third steep has notes of malt, tannins, raisins, earth, and wood.
This is my first Japanese black tea, and although I’d read that they can be abrasive, this was nothing of the sort. Thanks to Derk for sending me a sample of this tea. I’ll be exploring more Japanese Wakocha in the future.
Flavors: Chili, Citrus, Earth, Floral, Grain, Honey, Malt, Muscatel, Orange Blossom, Passion Fruit, Raisins, Spices, Tannic, Wood
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Not that you’re asking for a recommendation, but Thés du Japon has a large selection of Japanese black teas. So far, all but one of the teas I’ve tried from them has been very enjoyable.
What is their shipping like? I don’t drink a lot of Japanese green teas, so most Japanese vendors fly under my radar.
Almost $30 USD for 400g of tea. $$$ but it’s fast and won’t be lost for months.
Oof! Shipping from Japan does tend to be expensive. Maybe someday…
Alistair at What-Cha often has Japanese black teas too.
Evol Ving Ness, I remember seeing one on What-Cha, but it isn’t there anymore. Maybe it’ll come back next year.
TheTea also has a Wakocha, which is described as having fruity notes. Camellia Sinensis had a couple Japanese black teas the last time I looked.
Not that you’re asking for a recommendation, but Thés du Japon has a large selection of Japanese black teas. So far, all but one of the teas I’ve tried from them has been very enjoyable.
What is their shipping like? I don’t drink a lot of Japanese green teas, so most Japanese vendors fly under my radar.
Almost $30 USD for 400g of tea. $$$ but it’s fast and won’t be lost for months.
Oof! Shipping from Japan does tend to be expensive. Maybe someday…
Alistair at What-Cha often has Japanese black teas too.
Evol Ving Ness, I remember seeing one on What-Cha, but it isn’t there anymore. Maybe it’ll come back next year.
TheTea also has a Wakocha, which is described as having fruity notes. Camellia Sinensis had a couple Japanese black teas the last time I looked.