(See also http://steepster.com/teas/coffeeam/18137-gyokuro-asahi?post=75734)
I finally finished this one up, and I finally realized something unique, possibly strange, about it. It is astringent! Now, I’ve read (and it’s usually matched my limited experience) that because gyokuro is shaded, it’s usually not astringent. However, the astringency of this gyokuro is not unpleasant, just not what I expected.
However, this tea does have a very nice sweetness in the throat that becomes much more pronounced once your mouth is empty. It remains a couple minutes even after the cup is finished. That is the nicest thing about this tea, since I don’t think the flavors were well-balanced, nor was it smooth or deliciously sweet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty good tea actually, but I’d say this is middle-end for quality.
