So this is the Takgoti tea I’ve been waiting to try. Now I’ve finally been given the chance to see if Samovar lives up to its lofty reputation or not. ;)
The dry tea smells mostly of matcha, a thick, grassy sort of smell with a hint of toasted grains. I accidently put my nose too close and inhale a bit of the green powder. Cue a violent coughing fit.
With my eyes and nose still running, I manage somehow to add the water without spilling or scalding myself. Instantly my senses are bombarded with the smell of toasted grains. It’s a rich, powerful, savory scent that rivals any of the genmaichas I’ve ever tried. My mug is black so I can’t really see the tea colour well, but even so I can see the water turn a cloudy green.
Now here it comes…the moment of truth….Drum roll please.
The taste is fascinatingly complex. I do get the roasted grains flavour at the tip of each sip, but not as strongly as I was expecting from the scent. Then the flavour fades into something like matcha but not quite. It’s lightly grassy with a thick, milky sort of feel in my mouth, but it lacks the bitter-grass tang that straight matcha will give you. The after taste is more roasted grains and tasting it is making me feel a bit hungry almost.
This is a lovely, complex tea; it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but then I have no idea what exactly I was expecting. It’s a delicious-tasting savory tea that has a surprisingly amout of body and presence for a green tea. This is no delicate little Dragonwell! Two thumbs up Takgoti, I think you have excellent taste! :)
Preparation
Comments
Wow, your description sounds great…I assumed this would taste bitter like matcha, but it seems like it’s a whole different experience.
Personally, I’m not a fan of genmaicha. But yeah, I have ordered some of this. Beware – it’s addictive! :)
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! [And I’ve accidentally inhaled the matcha powder before, too, so I completely understand. It had a tendency to poof!]
Sniffing matcha now? Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I wonder if there are any support groups for that…
Inhaling matcha is the only negative aspect of it:)
Wow, your description sounds great…I assumed this would taste bitter like matcha, but it seems like it’s a whole different experience.
Personally, I’m not a fan of genmaicha. But yeah, I have ordered some of this. Beware – it’s addictive! :)
I agree on takgoti. Nice review.
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! [And I’ve accidentally inhaled the matcha powder before, too, so I completely understand. It had a tendency to poof!]
This tea is such a meal, almost! Takes like breakfast cereal gone green. This will more than likely be on my Samovar order when I have enough money and a lot less tea. :D