5 Tasting Notes
The tea has a rather smokey aroma and this also reflects in the taste. The bitterness of the tea leaves and the bitter scent of the smoked aroma collaborate nicely to imbue the tea with a strong refreshing, thirst quenching and revitalising character. A hint of acidity can also be derived, but isn’t at all overpowering. The overall aroma of the tea quickly fades and doesn’t linger in the mouth. It’s liquor is dark brown with a dark red distinction. Visually, it appears somewhat close to the liquor of a black tea.
Overall, it is a fairly easy tea to enjoy and easy to brew. It is a great thirst quencher and allows itself to be infused in large quantities at a time, making it a great tea to drink throughout the day. As the amount of caffeine contained is also neither to low, Kyo-Bancha can be consumed at basically any time of the day and by any person ranging from very young to old.
Flavors: Bitter, Smoke
Preparation
Ayataka is a very popular bottled beverage in Japan and to speak the truth also my personal favorite. The trouble character of it’s liquor adds to the authentic experience of a freshly infused loose leaf Japanese Green Tea. It also has a slightly bitter character and sufficient sweetness to make it a favorable drink to consume on a rather hot day.
Flavors: Bitter, Butter, Cookie, Peat, Sweet
Having tried three infusions of this tea, I find that the first infusion best exhibits it’s true character. Later infusions bring out and emphasize certain impressions, resulting in a stronger inclination towards independent characteristics. The first infusion however, expresses a good balance between all tastes and fragrances. It is also a rather dry tea, lingering mostly on the back of the tongue and in the front of the throat. I would recommend this tea mostly to enjoy on an idle relaxing moment at home or when having diner.
Flavors: Astringent, Dry Grass, Grass, Round, Spicy, Sweet, Vanilla
Preparation
One of the better and full Genmaicha teas I have experienced. Its soft and pleasant flavor of the quality sencha leaves balances out nicely against the round and full scent of the roasted rice.
Flavors: Caramel, Rice, Roasted, Sweet
Preparation
My first impression when I took the brew to under my nose was a mellow buttery fragrance. Taking a first sip did indeed confirm that impression. It’s liquor is soft and pets the tongue as cream. It has a dominating sweet character with a slight sense of astringency that mainly remains in the mouth afterward. A little hint of sour can be found in the fragrance of the twigs. This first infusion depicts a revealing game of the liquor’s soft and sweet character in the mouth and a gradually increasing astringency and dryness in the mouth afterward.
It’s liquor is a fresh, light yellow-green as is suitable for a Karigane Sencha.
(full review) http://www.tea-talk.be/blog/2014/8/28/review-karigane-sencha-musashi
Flavors: Astringent, Butter, Creamy, Herbs, Lemongrass, Sweet
