Sencha Ariake

Good, very grassy, sweet. Not as buttery/creamy as the Imari nor with the same mouth-feel but still good. Still has a great fresh taste which is surprising since it’s best by date was in July. (Oops). Don’t think I get any sweet potato taste out of it though. If pushed I might say the taste I get when I hold it in my mouth is raw sweet potato but I don’t think anyone would ever drink this and good “mmm, sweet potato”. Though they might go “mmm, grass clippings”. But you know, good grass clippings.

Was in the mood for something Japanese tonight, and this was sitting there still unopened, so… I got out my kyusu and got to it.

This is really a pretty good sencha. The first steeping is delicate, and the colour is closer to eau de nil than I usually expect even with a Japanese green. The packet’s claim that it tastes like sweet potato is… hmmn, fanciful is probably the kindest way of putting it. But it is sweet, and, of course vegetal/grassy.

I left the second steeping a fraction longer, for just over a minute, and allowed a little astringency to creep in, just to add a little more depth to the flavour.

Yeah, really not bad. I’ll be having this one again.

Pretty good, it’s the cheaper of the Yutakamidori options from Lupicia, not much difference in taste between the Chiran and the Ariake, I tend to favor the Ariake on price.