Rishi Tea
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I confess: I picked a little bit of this up from the store simply because the leaves were so interesting. Tightly rolled and so shiny! I haven’t had anything like it before.
It smells both grassy and honeyed, like it can’t decide if it wants to be a Japanese or Chinese green. Tastes quite a bit like sencha but with only a hint astringency and without the hint of turning bitter if I leave it in the cup for too long. As it cools, a more Chinese green taste comes out… I’m getting a honey taste that isn’t quite honey… I’m guessing the pinecone taste they mention? Don’t really get the orchid except for the fact that it is sweet and fresh tasting (not quite floral). I don’t get the briny taste I normally do when I drink Chinese greens. This is actually quite nice.
ETA: The second steep at 3:15 is crazy bitter/salty and the aftertaste is like I just swallowed a mouthful of ocean. I make a face each time I sip it. The rating gets dropped for not having a good second steep.
Preparation
Great earthy smell. Full-bodied and lots of deep earthy flavors! This is probably the darkest tea I have seen. Looks like a cup of coffee. If placed next to drip coffee I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. A very excellent puerh tea. I would definitely buy this one again.
Preparation
TTB Tea #10
Exactly 6 months ago I had my 1st matcha experience. This matcha. The only difference is now I’m making it myself.
I should say I think this is Rishi matcha… the TTB log book says Lena was the only one that put matcha in so far ( that I could find) and she didn’t list a # so I assumed she only put 1 packet in, which has already been claimed, but then I found this. So for all intents and purposes I’m calling this Rishi matcha.
Gosh this is a devil to get out… half is stuck in the packet- I’m sure from being smashed at the bottom of the box for ages. Poor bruised, broken matcha.
1 packet/6oz water as my favorite cafe makes it.
The matcha incorporates with the water very well, even before I whisk it. I’m disappointed that it does not foam nearly as much as at the cafe, but it still is one of the most foamy matchas I’ve had. I’m sure the lack of foam is completely my fault and not that of the matcha.
It’s been so long, I’m having a hard time comparing my 2 experiences- and the foam affects it as well… but it’s a smooth, thick, vegetal, bitter, sweet, GREEN taste and mouth feel that immediately makes me smile… until… Remember the “sludge” I lovingly speak of? Well, this isn’t it. The last few sips contain hard, chalky clumps of matcha that literally almost made me puke. But again- I am not blaming this on the matcha. I can only imagine what damage is done to poor, sensitive matcha particles in that box. I will try this again. Although I can’t see me buying this (in powder, not by the bowla at a cafe) more than once purely due to the stupid packaging.
Preparation
MY 1st EXPERIENCE W/ MATCHA! I had this at a new cafe my mom and I tried for dinner last nite… AMAZING! light and a touch grassy topped w/ a light froth that did not collapse when my lips touched it much like cappuccino or beer foam does. There was a little bit of delicious grassy sludge as I lovingly called it that I washed down w/ just an extra spash of water. Lovely. My new addiction.
I’ve been curious about matcha for a while. Just a bit deterred by all the equipment I would need to get along with it. If I were to try something with as much tradition and ceremony attached to it, I’d want to do it right.
I’ll have to get around to it one of these days. You’ve made me mighty curious. (Hey, brainwave! I could put the lot on my christmas wishlist!)
@Cofftea, Did you try it sweetened or unsweetened?
@Angrboda, do they have Starbucks in Denmark? That was where I first tried matcha and even if they do sweeten their drinks too much, it might be a good starting point.
@ Jillian: Only in Copenhagen Airport as far as I know. We have a chain called Baresso which is up the same alley, but they’re very focused on coffee. They have only a few mainstream teas, and I’ve seen how they make those. Let’s just say that while I like their coffee drinks, even if they did have a matcha I’m too snobby to drink their teas.
@ Cofftea: The teamap only covers North America and the UK, so that would still require a wee bit of travelling. Good suggestion though.
@Jillian Sweetened matcha? And SBUX does NOT serve matcha. They use a sweetened matcha type powder for their green tea frappuccinos and lattes, but it’s not real matcha.
Brews a deep orange color. Fresh, light, and clean, a bit fruity, grassy / straw-like, and with a suggestion of a seafood-like quality. Less earthy and less sour than red rooibos.
I recommend a very long steeping time. I like this one a lot.
Preparation
I’ve had the flu and been unable to write and without an appetite for much of anything, including tea. Today I feel almost human and I’m celebrating with this delicious lychee tea. Lychee is one of my favorite fruits and this tea does a reasonable job of bringing the lychee flavor to this mild black tea. Overall it is quite nice.
My Rishi Tea Mannong Manmai Sample set came today and this was in it. Oh my these are big bags for samples! I’m used to Golden Moon samples (only enough for one cup) or Upton Tea’s samples (enough for 4-6 cups).
I am feeling sick (fever, sore throat, cough) and while I normally do not desire Pu-erh, and indeed I normally have to use my Be Brave days to try new pu-erhs, today I crave it and crave mint. Strange.
The tea brews into a nearly black liquor with the envigorating smell of mint and the classic earthy pu-erh smell under that. Strangely enough it smells really good to me today. The taste is nearly all mint with a dark, chocolate taste underneath, but softly, softly. The mouth-feel is quite full-bodied and it has substance on the tongue, almost a creaminess. Also it takes Silk Creamer very, very well. Overall I like tea. It is a good tea for someone sick.
So happy I’m not the only one who impulse buys items because they are shiny. Eww, salty tea sound nasty, but so does pine…
So is it a gunpowder tea?
@teafiend: I’m all about impulse buying tea – or shiny things!
@Jillian: No clue but maybe? The leaves look the same but I’ve never had gunpowder except in a blend and this wasn’t smoky like I understand gunpowder is supposed to be…
Okay, I was curious, so I searched and found this "The shape of Jade Fire is similar to gunpowder tea but it is considered by experts to be a much more refined and higher quality tea. " (http://www.peliteas.com/green/g_jade_fire2.html)
Cool, thanks. :)
NP. I love that there is so much stuff to learn – pretty much guarantees that I’ll never get bored with tea!