Kasumi no Chajin

Loose
Appearance: red-brownish black slight crinkle in leaf, bright yellow petals noticeable
Aroma when Dry: tart, fruity floral
After water is first poured: fruity, syrupy
At end of first steep: sticky syrupy, grenadine most noticeable
Tea liquor:
At end of first steep: brownish red
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
At first: tart, slight tang of the grenadine notes, vanilla closes
As it cools? notes open, layer, tea sours
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? yes, with a sour and vanilla cloying tanf

Loose
Appearance: dusty matcha green, rice looks unpopped, good sizer med bancha leaf
Aroma when Dry: roasty matcha, sweet (eastern)
After water is first poured: roasty genmai notes jump out, followed by the sweetness (eastern) of matcha
At end of first steep: nutty, roasty matcha
Tea liquor:
At beginning of first steep: dusty green
At end of first steep: murky matcha green
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: Any
Taste:
At first: warm nutty, roasty matcha, more distinct genmai notes close
As it cools? notes all open up, start to compete, tea gets “busy”
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with definite matcha sweetness (eastern) and roasty notes matcha leaves a bit of a fuzzy, drying note

Second steep (5 min)
Tea liquor: pale green
Aroma: nutty, roasty gen mai
Taste: weak genmai nutty, roastyness

Loose
Appearance: large leaf black,slight curl noticeable fruit, bright cherries
Aroma when Dry: tart cherry, nutty
After water is first poured: bright, tart cherry, fruity
At end of first steep: mellowed tart cherry
Tea liquor:
At end of first steep: brownish green
Staple? possibly Seasonal
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
At first: sightly tart/tangy cherry, prominent grassy notes
As it cools? More cherry, deepening into layers, sweetening slightly, less grass
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, a sourness remains

Second steep (7 min):
milder cherry, lighened grassy notes
Need to revisit chilled

Loose
Appearance: large leaf green, noticeable fruit
Aroma when Dry: citrus, hints of green
After water is first poured: ruby red(sish) grapefruit pops out
Tea liquor:
At end of first steep: clear
Staple? Seasonal perhaps
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
At first: sweetish grapefruit faint green notes
As it cools?Grapefuit notes mellow out, green notes surface
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, grapefruit notes with a bit of powdery-ness at close

Second steep (5 min 30 seconds)
Tea liquor: clear
Aroma: light grapefruit
Taste: balanced grapefruit and green
As it cools:a “zesty” as in fruit zest note starts to surface

third steep, slightly lighter then second, same notes

Might try chilled

Loose
Appearance: large “kernel” oolong, two toned green, deep purpleish pink petals
Aroma when Dry: sticky sweet desert floral, almost gooey
After water is first poured: floral icing
At end of steep: subtle sweet fruity notes, powdery
Tea liquor:
At end of first steep: transparent light green
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
At first: jammy, sweet berry, slightly sticky
As it cools? plum syrupy notes start showing
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No.
Lingers? Yes, very sweet, cloying jammyness, violet notes show

Flowering
Aroma when Dry: slightly bitter-sweet, floral, hints of nuttyness
After water is first poured:
At end of steep: sweet, nutty, floral
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: meadowy yellow
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
At first: slight grass, creamy, nutty, hints of jasmine
As it cools? tea starts to get chewy
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with full creamy nuttiness

Flowering
Aroma when Dry: grassy, nutty, sour
At end of steep: slight bitter, floral, faint sweet notes
Tea liquor:
At beginning of first steep: very light yellow
At end of steep:
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
At first: mildly bitter, closing with sweet grassy notes
As it cools? notes flatten, tea “drys” out
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No

Second steep
Tea liquor: light green
Aroma: slight fruity notes, almost berry, with grassy notes
Taste: grassy, “fuzzy”, sour
As it cools: gets less fuzzy and sour, more floral, stays grassy, sweetens (eastern) slightly

Loose
Appearance: grey, green color, med curl to leaf
Aroma when Dry: citrus, powdery
After water is first poured: pungent grapefruit, floral,
At end of first steep: bitter, grassy, floral fruity
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: clear
Staple? unsure
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
At first: chewy, floral, slight creaminess, brothy a bit flat
As it cools? notes open, citrus notes lessen layer a bit, tea gets deeper and meatier
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Slightly, hints of grass through a creaminess

Second steep (8 min)
Tea liquor: clear
Aroma: very light citrus vegital
Taste: hints of floral, vegetal notes
As it cools: mellows into a creamy green texture

Bagged, looking into loose leaf
Aroma when Dry: Bright, tart, floral
After water is first poured: lemon
At end of steep: very lemony, hints of hibiscus
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: dusty yellow
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: any, but day primarily
Taste:
At first: lemon, almost blackberry leaf notes, rosehips very faint hibiscus
As it cools? notes taste like unsweetened lemony syrup
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, the rosehips and lemon mostly

Want to try chilled

Appearance med brown, slight crinkle in the leaf
Aroma when Dry: mild, slight malt, floral
After water is first poured: floral, faint fruity, layered
At end of steep: floral, slight leather notes
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: light, layered grey
Staple? Likely
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
At first: slight bitter note, crisp, maltyish, very little tang, bitters on the closing notes
As it cools? gets less bitter, astringent, floral notes get milder
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with simple single note bitter astringency.

Bagged, will restock with loose
Aroma when Dry: minty, hints of the green base grassy notes balanced
After water is first poured: desert minty sweet (western)
At end of steep: balanced fresh, herby green, hints of grassyness
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: light meadowy green
Staple? Yes, trying loose leaf next
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
first notes grassy, herby, mint cools and closes
As it cools? Both mint and grassy notes open up, tea gets a bit sweeter
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, light brightness, hints of mint.
Want to try chilled

Bagged, will restock with loose
Aroma when Dry: orange and chocolate, hints of both vanilla and cinnamon, layered, balanced
After water is first poured: warm orange chocolate, creamy
At end of steep: same notes, mellowed, more vanilla
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: clay brown/red
Staple? Yes, trying loose leaf next
Time of day preferred: evening
Taste:
first notes (without milk): cinnamon, then smooth, dusty, dry, deep like orange baking chocolate
As it cools? Notes deepen, balanced tea gets more velvety, even slightly fuzzy
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not for this tasting
Have used with milk with great success
With Milk: mimics bold cocoa
Lingers? Yes, the velvety notes suggested open up, with a chocolate dusty, creamy, almost buttery nature vanilla note stays longest

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: Moderate sweet mint, bright
After water is first poured: faint mint
At end of steep: bright, fresh, crisp mint, bright
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: meadow brown/green
Staple? Yes, type. Would buy again gladly
Time of day preferred: Any
Taste:
first notes: flat green with light mint crisp notes closing
As it cools? notes flatten out, get grassier
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, grassy minty notes

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: lavender, sweet, floral slightly chewy
After water is first poured: floral, sweet
At end of steep: sticky, floral, desert sweet (western)
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: pale grass brown
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: as needed medicinally
Taste:
first notes: syrupy, herby
As it cools? gets sweeter
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with a cloying sweet woodiness

Bagged, will restock with loose
Loose
Appearance
Aroma when Dry: sour, slightly floral, earthy
After water is first poured: earthy, peppery floral, jasmine noticeable
At end of steep: floral, nutty, sweet (eastern)
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: deep red– brown
Staple? Yes
Time of day preferred: afternoon
Taste:
first notes: Jasmine, followed by an earthy depth, warming foresty note
As it cools? Floral notes open up, tea gets a bit of a sour afterbite, notes layer
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, jasmine notes open up and remain.

Bagged, will restock with loose
Aroma when Dry: hints of notes sweet, peppery, malt, woodiness
After water is first poured: spicy, peppery, hints of earthiness
At end of steep: warm, nutty, slight fruity notes
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: rich, leathery brown
Staple? Yes, will restock with loose leaf
Time of day preferred: Any when black, most used as base for chai in afternoon and evening
Taste:
first notes: noticed the bite of Darjeeling, then Assam, closing with Ceylon. Am not familiar enough with Keemun to detect
As it cools? Notes open up, tea sours a bit more, gets deeper,astringent
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not for tasting, but most used as chai base, adding masala, honey and steamed milk
Lingers? Yes, notes blending in the palate, mainly celyon closing

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: barely noticeable
After water is first poured: hints of mintiness
At end of steep: brighter hints of mint
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: light green
Staple? Type yes, brand No
Time of day preferred: Any
Taste:
first notes: flat mint fuzzyness
As it cools? starts to leave a fuzzy lingering note in the mouth
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Slightly, same fuzzy notes

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: Sour, bright, slight fruit, layered
After water is first poured: musty, slight sour note, earthy
At end of steep: bright, sweet-sour, slight floral
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: dark, earthy brown-red
Staple? Type yes, will look into loose leaf of this and others next
Time of day preferred: any
Taste: slight sour, tangy, astringent, then dusty. Hints of woodiness
first notes: slight sour, slight dirt and fruit, tangy
As it cools? notes mellow, sourness balances out, tea bitters slightly
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? with astringency, and tang

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: sour, sweaty
After water is first poured: sweaty
At end of steep: earthy, slight musk
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: dark, earthy brown-red
Staple? No
Time of day preferred: unsure, first tasting
Taste:
first notes: forest dirt, mustyenss
As it cools? Notes get sweaty, peaty again
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? With slight sweaty, chemical notes

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: fragrant, sweet, slightly sour, layered
After water is first poured: bright, sour, nutty
At end of steep: slight floral, earthy
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: deep brown
Staple? Likely, will restock with loose leaf
Time of day preferred: afternoon, evening
Taste:
first notes: earthy, mild, layered nutty quality
As it cools? Notes blend a bit, tea deepens in texture, gets creamier, and more nutty
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with a slight nutty, creamy texture, notes build in nutty qualities

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: floral, apple-y, dusty
After water is first poured: fruity, sweet
At end of steep: slightly floral, citrus hinted at
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: very light brown– green
Staple? No, but would drink and buy again
Time of day preferred: any, medicinal use
Taste:
first notes: mild camomile, citrus closes
As it cools? notes open, mellow, almost apple- minty qualities
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Moderately, mainly camomile

Bagged, will restock with loose leaf
Aroma when Dry: bright, floral, apple-y, green base noticeable
After water is first poured: sweet, hints of citrus
At end of steep: fruity, floral, faint grassyness
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: very light green
Staple? Yes, looking into loose leaf
Time of day preferred: any, primary use medicinal
Taste:
first notes: green base very noticeable, grassy, with hints of fruit and floral from the camomile
As it cools? floral notes open up quite a bit, then all the notes mellow out
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Very slightly, both notes

Bagged
Aroma when Dry: fruity, sweet, berry notes linger
After water is first poured: still sweet, blackberry then raspberry notes
At end of steep: floral, fruity, berries dominate, no hibiscus notes noticeable
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: floral, hibiscusy, berry red
Staple? Yes Summer seasonal
Time of day preferred: any, seasonal
Taste:
first notes: berry, blended, blackberry a bit more noticeable, slight astringency, hibiscus barely noticeable
As it cools? Hibiscus notes stand out a bit, tea balances in sweetness berry notes blend
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not for tasting, have used agave in summer, chilled successfully
Lingers? Only faintly, hints of berry, leaves a dry note.
Prefer chilled

Bagged, will restock with Loose
Aroma when Dry: minty, layered
After water is first poured: minty, dusty
At end of steep: minty, slightly nutty
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: light mint green
Staple? Yes, especially summer seasonal
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
first notes: crisp mint, gets a bit mossy in closing
As it cools? mellows into fuzzy mintyness
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not for tasting, have used with honey or agave in past, with success.
Lingers? Yes, minty clarity stays.