Gyokuro Imperial

Really great green tea! I make iced green tea with this and mix with different herbal teas for variety. Drink it everyday!

“Green” is the first word that comes to mind. “Vegetative” if I’m feeling more academic. More than anything, I’m reminded of fresh cooked spinach, but not in a bad way, if that makes any sense.

If you like very intense green teas, this will be the tea for you.

When I decided to try Teavana teas for the first time, this was the one I decided to buy. Fortunately, I loved this tea (seeing as I foolishly bought it before tasting it or even knowing what to expect) and I could drink a pot at a time.
Some people complain that it’s bitter, but once you get used to the more leafy taste, it’s a delightful drink. It almost had a nutty undertone that really complimented it. I’m not exactly sure what temperature I set it to (since I don’t have anything to measure temperature with), but I would let the water cool for a minute or two before steeping the leaves. I wouldn’t leave the tea leaves in for more than 45 seconds, or else it may taste more bitter than desired.
Overall, though, I would recommend this tea to any green tea lovers!

Tea opens on the nose with cut grass and a hint of jasmine.
Grassy, herb notes on the palate with a strong yet not overpowering flavor. The first infusion for 45 sec (175F) results in no bitterness at all and a beautiful spring leaf green colour.
I am actually surprised this tea has such a low rating. It’s probably my favorite green from Teavana, and top 5 overall.

The tea has a nice flavor (though it is disappointingly mild), but just pay attention when brewing. If the water is even a little too hot or too cold, it loses much of its flavor and becomes nothing special. Also, editing this note much later, you really shouldn’t buy this tea. There are much higher rated teas on this site that both taste better and also cost less. Just buy a couple teas at once from some other companies so that you get free shipping (Rishi tea, verdant tea, ect… all do it).

So while the flavor is fine/enjoyable, for the price it is not a good deal.

Very good. Could be a go to Green for me. It’s a little pricey so I might try to find something a little less expensive. 4 tsps for 4 cups. 175 – 30 seconds. Smooth nothing bitter.

Great tea, a little hard to brew but ends up very vegetal and sweet.

Full review: http://exm.nr/ipRT9r

Very happy with this green tea. I drink it whenever i can, morning noon night. I can drink a LOT of this tea and i never get sick of it. I just bought some white tea so i can have a balance, but i really like the grassy flavor.

Wow, LOVE this tea, light and pleasant taste and an aroma to die for. Water temp is lower and very quick steep so more press than pot but really enjoyed this one.
Teavana pricing is pretty good over all but haven’t tried many other Gyokuro’s so will update as I do.

1st steep: 125° for 90 sec.
delicate yet full flavor, green, grassy, slightly sweet
2nd steep: 140° for 50 sec.
similar flavor, ever so slightly “rougher” – but just barely

Very mild, a little grassy. i was surprised how short the recommended steep time was—45 seconds?—and then I see it listed as longer here. I’ll have to experiment with a lower temp and longer time.

The Gyokuro Imperial green tea has a very slight sweet taste to it with a grassy kick at the end. It smells like freshly cut grass. It’s a good green tea. Seems to be a very delicate tea. Just a slight variation in the water temperature or time really makes a difference.

Beware of the steep time. Teavana’s sticker said 2 minutes when it’s really 30-45 seconds. They didn’t tell me that when I purchased it. However, I’d go with a steep time of around 1 minute and a temperature closer to 180 degrees.

A very nice Japanese green tea with a lightly sweet and vegetal taste. Works well iced and hot. Especially good when you make an Ice Steeped Gyokuro! add 2 and a half teaspoons of the tea to a 16 oz. tea-maker and fill up the rest of the tea-maker with ice. Pour water (175 degrees F.) over the ice so that some of it melts and there is a little room left in the tea-maker. Add as much more ice to the tea-maker as you can. Let it steep for 15 minutes. You can leave it in the fridge while it’s steeping :D All the ice keeps the tea from burning or going bitter

Savory, vegetal, and sweet. Hit the spot.

I bought this based on the recommendation of the sales person in the Boston store but I was feeling skeptical. However, I really like it and wish I had bought more!

This green tea has a slightly bitter ending on one’s taste buds.However, with all its great benefits including B vitamins this is a bitter sweet ending.

This tea has a funky smell but taste great.

Since I only make this on special occasions (such as when I have a green tea-drinking friend over) I don’t actually remember the details of this tea. Except that I liked it. ^^;

Savory, very light, enjoyed it very much, even at a 2 minute steep rather than a 1 minute steep. Reviewed for today’s episode of STeaP Live: http://steaptv.com