166 Tasting Notes
The first of the free samples that Yunomi sent with my order, though this was some leftover 2023 tea. Still tasted good, but I can’t help but think it was significantly better fresh.
I’m a sucker for asamushi. This one is very nice. Nothing wrong with it, but also nothing that stands out. Just a solid pick. Mouthfeel is mildly thick. No bitterness or astringency. Mild sweetness with strong umami.
Harvest: May 2023
Location: Ashikubo, Shizuoka
Flavors: Umami, sweetness, vegetal
Flavors: Sweet, Umami, Vegetal
The last of the samples I chose from Yunomi’s extensive catalogue. Not as good as #8, but still a respectable sencha.
Also very little bitterness or astringency, but overall weaker flavor than #8.
Harvest: May 2024
Cultivars: Yabukita-based blend (other cultivars include Saemidori, Okumidori, Okuyutaka)
Location: Upper mountains of Yabe village, Yame District, Fukuoka, Japan
Altitude: 600 m
Flavors: Sweet, umami, vegetal
Flavors: Sweet, Umami, Vegetal
Another wonderful sencha from Chiyonoen. Their teas along with Kurihara seem to be winners from Yunomi’s catalogue.
No bitterness or astringency. Pure umami sweetness and smoothness.
Harvest: May 1, 2024 (88th day of spring)
Cultivar: Blend of saemidori, yabukita, okumidori, okuyutaka
Location: Upper mountains of Yabe village, Yame District, Fukuoka, Japan
Altitude: 600 m
Flavors: Umami, sweetness, vegetal
Flavors: Sweet, Umami, Vegetal
Very nice and easy drinking tea. Not terribly complex, but at this price, I wasn’t expecting that.
Very mild bitterness on steep 2 only. No astringency. Mild sweetness. Lasts 12 infusions.
Price is $0.12/g.
Location: Fa Tang Village, Lincang
Flavors: Apricot, fruity, sweet, bitter.
Flavors: Apricot, Bitter, Fruity, Sweet
SUPER approachable and easygoing puerh. This would be a great introduction sheng for teaheads wanting to try some puerh. Very clean flavor profile with some distinct notes, which can be difficult for puerh sometimes.
Minimal to no bitterness. No astringency. Mild sweetness. Mouthfeel is fairly full and oily. Lasts 10+ infusions. Awesome value at $0.24/g for a cake.
Location: Pa Pai Village, Cang Yuan, Lincang
Dry leaf: Apricot
Wet leaf: Apricot, hay
Flavors: Apricot, fruity, sweet, bitter, cream, oily
Flavors: Apricot, Bitter, Cream, Hay, Oily, Sweet
Another one from Yunomi. This is probably my least favorite of this batch of samples, though it isn’t bad per say. At $0.56/g, it is also the most expensive of the lot. I have to agree with the only reviewer of this tea on Yunomi’s site that the tea is a bit roasty in flavor, which is very offputting for a fresh green tea. The rest of the flavors are also pretty muted.
No bitterness or astringency and no to minimal sweetness. I guess it’s just not what I’m looking for in a sencha really.
Probably asamushi. Says it was shaded for 10 days.
Harvest: March 18, 2024
Cultivar: Shoju
Location: Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima
Dry leaf: Vegetal, umami
Wet leaf: Same
Flavors: Vegetal, umami, roasty
Flavors: Roasty, Umami, Vegetal
Very nice and very expensive (> $1/g) tea from FL. Super subdued for the first 2-3 infusions, then becomes very sweet. Infusions 2 and 3 have some mild bitterness, but it dissipates. Very fruity and overall a delicious tea :).
Super clean and the leaves are HUGE and all intact. Definitely another winner from FL.
Harvest: Spring, 2024
Location: Ba Ka Noy, Menghai
Dry leaf: Apricot, fruity
Wet leaf: Same
Flavors: Apricot, fruity, grapes, sweet, bitter
Flavors: Apricot, Bitter, Bittersweet, Fruity, Grapes
Pretty good but not amazing. Not as much punch as some of the other gyokuros I’ve had.
Got 4 good steeps. Definitely umami with minimal to no sweetness. No astringency or bitterness. Decent power, but not as energizing as I had hoped.
Harvest: May 2024
Location: Yabemura Village, Yame, Fukuoka
Flavors: Salty, broth, umami, seaweed, spinach, vegetal.
Flavors: Broth, Salt, Seaweed, Spinach, Umami, Vegetal
This one is CLEAN. No better way to describe it. So fresh and clear and elegant. Only the second kabusecha I’ve had.
Tomizawa has been making tea in the Kumamoto area as a family-owned business for 85 years now. They have produced an organic tea that was shaded for 2 weeks and processed as a chumushi and a tamaryokucha (or guricha).
No bitterness, and only mild astringency on the fourth and final steep at 190 F. Incredibly clear liquor with almost no defects. High sweetness and umami levels. I do not perceive any floral notes as some of the reviewers on Yunomi’s website mention.
Harvest: Early May, 2024
Cultivar: Okumidori
Location: Mashiki, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto
Dry Leaf: Vegetal, nutty
Wet leaf: Vegetal, umami
Flavor: Seaweed, umami, sweetness, astringency, vegetal
Flavors: Astringent, Nutty, Seaweed, Sweet, Vegetal
Another one from my recent order. This one is quite nice as well! Holds up to 156 F brewing with 3 g. Not quite as good as some of the others from this batch. Less flavor and sweetness. However, still very nice and comforting!
Not as much info provided on this one, but presumably is a blend and chumushi based on my guess. Is also a mushi-sei tamaryokucha, which is the first I’ve had. I don’t notice any difference in smell or flavor. Less than 3% of Japanese teas are made in this style.
Harvest: Spring, 2024
Location: Imari, Saga Prefecture
Flavors: Grass, umami, vegetal
Flavors: Grass, Umami, Vegetal
