I’ve been on a bit of green tea kick lately, mostly because I have a fair amount of it that I want to make sure is gone before shincha preorder time rolls around. This one isn’t next in the rotation for what one to open – there are others that I’ve had around longer that are probably getting kind of old – but I just couldn’t resist anymore.
Is it just me or does all sencha smell delicious when you open it up? I just adore that smell. Anyone know if they make sencha scented candles? Because it has to be one of my favorite smells ever. This one is grass and butter, or maybe cream. Sniffing again post-steeping, I get chlorophyl and pumpkin.
The taste is smooth, creamy, mild but thick, full of chlorophyl and milk. There’s a sharp bit of bitterness on the end but pleasantly no astringency (which usually seems to go hand in hand with bitterness in green tea but also something I’m not a fan of). Maybe the bitterness comes is from too much leaf? Though in some ways it is a nice contract to the heavy silky smoothness of the rest of the sip and it isn’t overly strong or too overwhelming. Actually, the more I sip it, the more I kind of like that brief flash of bitterness. It gives the tea a nice balance and keeps it from being too rich.
This actually reminds me a bit of Samovar’s Ryokucha but only in that I so love Ryokucha’s milky note – it’s what made me fall in love with it – and this has a stronger, creamier milky note. It’s not something I often get in green tea but it’s totally there in this one.
Uhm, I accidentally kind of chugged my cup. I kept meaning to put it down and sip, but I just couldn’t make the cup leave my hand. And I think this one officially goes down as one of the fastest I’ve rushed to the teapot for a resteep.
The second steep (instant pour) has a bit more “normal” taste to it. There’s still some creamy but it is more in the aftertaste (and more in line with the amount I get from Samovar’s Ryokucha). The bitterness is still there, lasting for a little hint longer but not quite as punchy. There’s also a stronger pumpkin (or maybe acorn squash?) note to it.
And suddenly my cup is empty yet again. Sigh. I’m not sure if I need a third steep of a strong sencha at almost 10pm at night…. But this is a truly tasty tea. It’s not the most nuanced sencha I’ve come across, but it ranks up there. And it’s got the milky taste, which I find really pleasing and unique. Right now I can say that I am a bit infatuated with this tea. And if it keeps giving me what it has given me tonight, I think that’s going to develop into a case of full blow love. ♥
6g/6oz/155°/1:30
