sherubtse

A pleasant, typical, no-nonsense Tie Guan Yin. It has the usual floral aroma, but is a bit sweeter (honeyed) than others I have tried. An enjoyable tea at a nice price.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4:00 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

Quite vegetal (think buttered steamed asparagus) on the first infusion, and mildly astringent after that. Surprisingly flavourful and long-lasting for a karigane!

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz water, 60 deg., 45 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 1:30 min.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 5 oz. water, 60 deg., 10+ min.

Flavours of honey and flowers pervade all infusions, with the former more prominent initially and the latter to the fore subsequently. Too light for my taste. The leaves, however, are stunning to behold.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 3 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 5 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

A very pleasant black tea, having strong hints of dark chocolate along with undertones of sweetness. An alluring tannic taste is also present. It can become bitter if brewed too long, however, on the first infusion.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, boiling, 45 sec.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, boiling, 4:00 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, boiling, 10+ min.

This is a first-rate fuka: clear and clean in the cup, crisp and fresh on the tongue. It has the usual taste elements of a good-quality fuka as well. Excellent, but pricey.

First infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz water, 65 deg., 3:00 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 10:00+ min.

This is a well-balanced roasted oolong. Although the roasting comes through in all infusions, there are also distinct floral and honey notes when one allows the liquor to cool before drinking. Quite pleasant.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 1:45 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

Liquified dates, or perhaps prunes or sticky raisins. Wonderfully sweet and succulent.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 3:00 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4:00 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg. 7:00 min.

Fifth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg. 10+ min.

Brewed at low temperatures, this turns out to be a mild and pleasant fuka. It has the usual elements of an O-Cha fuka (vegetal, brothy, grassy, swampwater-green in appearance), but in a more muted form than others. Quite pleasant.

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz water, 60 deg., 45 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 1:15 min.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 5 oz. water, 60 deg., 10+ min.

Lots of honeyed sweetness in the liquor of this tea, along with more subtle flavours of caramel and peach. Very light and delicious.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 2:00 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4:00 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

This is a very dark, highly-oxidized oolong, very close to a black. There are notes of molasses, and a sweetness that is present through all infusions. Although not roasted, there is a certain “roastedness” to it.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 1:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 7 min.

Fifth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

Deliciously floral and sweet through all four infusions, this tea is a real treat. Great looking leaves and liquor as well.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 1:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

This is a pleasant tasting oolong. Its roasted flavour is present in all infusions. But there are also more subtle notes of honey, stone fruit, and flowers which come and go through the various brews.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 1:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

This is a pleasant tasting oolong. Its roastiness dominates through all infusions, but there are more subtle notes of honey and stone fruit which come and go through the various brews.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 1:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 4 min.

Fourth infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

A delicious sencha, that, when brewed at a lower temperature than recommended, offers up a lovely vegetal infusion (“cooked greens”) first time ’round, followed by pleasingly-astringent infusions with a mild “bite” subsequenely. A very pleasant tea.

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 45 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 75 sec.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 10 min.

Quite an enjoyable sencha — rather light & sweet on the first brew, and more astringent subsequently. This is another low-cost, good-quality sencha from O-cha.

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 50 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 90 sec.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 10 min.

This is a tasty sencha, with the usual elements of astringency and grassiness. It would make a good choice for those who prefer their senchas on the less intense side. More flavourful than the Miyazaki Organic Asamushi Sencha

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 50 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 75 sec.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 60 deg., 10 min.

This is a tasty and somewhat unusual sencha. There is a certain tartness, or piquancy, to the taste, as well as a pleasant aftertaste. Very nice!

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 80 deg., 40 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 75 sec.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 80 deg., 10 min.

This is a very mild, gentle and soft asa. Would be ideal for those who like their senchas on the light end of the flavour spectrum. Hence, it is too low-key for me.

First infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 2 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 10 min.

This shincha brews up a deliciously mild first infusion, with hints of stewed spinach, followed by a pleasant second infusion that is even lighter. Although the taste is quite enjoyable, the stunning green of the leaves (both dry and infused) steal the show.

First infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 1 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 10 min.

A delicious asa that has shades of a chu / fuka about it. Pleasingly grassy and astringent, with overtones of vegetal goodness as well. Brews a greener cup than many asa-s.

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 80 deg., 40 sec.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 80 deg., 45 sec.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 80 deg., 10 min.

A very enjoyable karigane sencha: sweet and toasty. More sweet in the first infusion, and more toasty in the second. Delicious, refreshing, and rather light in taste. A great tea to enjoy on occasion.

First infusion — 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 65 deg., 90 sec.

Second infusion — 3 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 10 min.

This is a delicious and refreshing white tea — sweet, fruity, delicate, and light.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 90 sec..

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 3 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 10 min.

A very nice Chinese green, in both appearance and taste. The flavours move from sweet and fruity, to less sweet and more stringent, to pleasantly astringent at the end.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 2 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 3 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 10 min.

Mildly-sweet and sweetly-mild, though the flavour is pretty much gone after 2 infusions. Nice enough, mind you, but nothing special.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 90 sec.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 3 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 75 deg., 10 min.