Gold Sen-Cha (Traditional Series)

This is a nice spinach like stabilizer for my sluggish morning. I wish I had some strong Fukamushi but this should get me through until lunch.

Appearance: jade colored broken leaves. I really like the color of a sencha – it just seems like green tea is supposed to be this green. Liquor: green-hued gold. Like other Japanese green teas, there is some sedimentation. Smell: very vegetal. Taste: again, vegetal, like spinach almost, but with sweet and nutty undertones. The price is reasonable, so this is a good staple to have in the cupboard. The price also means I’m comfortable being a little more flexible with experimenting. Today I added some osmanthus flowers, and loved it. Solid flavor, reasonable price, so an overall 7/10.

Rating 95, 10-29-2012 :
This was my Go To Everyday Tea. It is very reasonably priced for its rich flavor palate. +- 5.50 US dollar for 5.3 oz

1st Infusion: A rich green grassy aroma. The 1st brew is very satisfying, with a slightly woody upper palate. Tannin upper palate taste is also present. Delivers every time a rich, deep, complex palate.

2nd Brew: I use slightly hotter water +-190 and let it steep 5 minutes. A slightly milder taste but still complex, mossy green color.
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Update for December 2012 purchase:
I had rated this tea at 95, but unfortunately I bought two packages of this tea in December which were very disappointing. Possibly I got two very old dried out batches (although the package indicates best by 04Nov13. I may call the company to find out how to read the packaging date. This had been my go to everyday green tea. The last two batches were subpar not tasting green at all rather more like brown boring tea. I will try another package later in the Spring. Now I am on the prowl for other everyday sencha’s.

I’m new to loose leaf green teas, and have been trying different Chinese varieties. Picked this Japanese green up at lunch, just brewed my first pot. It is so much more complex and interesting than other greens I have tried. I can taste the “green” of the tea, it is well-balanced, and has a sweet caramel finish. To me, it is to other teas I have had, what a fresh micro-brewed ale is to a can of Budweiser.