Obubu Tea #10: Houjicha (Light Roast)

I’ve fallen into a pattern of drinking houjichas after I have an unpleasant tea experience to re-set my palate. I guess it’s because houjichas have never failed me so far. This houjicha in particular has more of a pronounced dried anchovy taste. Sounds weird, but that’s what it reminds me of, and I do like it. My little sample has gone lasted quite a while, and I still have some left, thankfully.

Frank….. why? Why must you re-blend a bunch of awesome tea around the same time that I bought A&D shtuff and a Music Theory book that I needed. resists temptation internally The funny part is that I was thinking about how I wish I could have some Banana Foster Tea again. I guess I have to play the creeper and watch till the stock gets to low for now.

Tea

This was part of the 3 month free trail sampler from Yunomi.

STEEPS:
Steep 1: Classic smooth green taste, but with a bold roasted note and hints of mesquite.

Steep 2: Similar flavor as before but stronger and now has sweet undertones with hints of butter.

Steep 3: The butter flavor is not as present. The roasted mesquite not is stronger now and isn’t as sweet; there is also some mild woody spice notes

Steep 4*: Has a similar flavor as the second steep, but the roasted notes are stronger. There is a slight astringency and a light menthol like mint in the after taste.

OVERALL FLAVOR:

A nice sweet and slightly savory roasted Japanese green tea. It doesn’t have a strong smokey taste, but instead has hints of mesquite wood spice and a small undertone of mint; depending on how long you steep it.

Full review: http://tunesntea.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/tea-obubu-tea-10-houjicha-light-roast/

Backlog:

I received this tea in one of my Mystery Tea Sampler’s Club envelopes. I love this club … every month I would get an envelope with three tea samples to try, and all the teas that I’ve tried thus far from Yunomi have been wonderful. Unfortunately, my subscription ended, hopefully, I will be able to renew the subscription as a christmas gift that my husband doesn’t know that he’s getting me. :)

A delicious roasty-toasty flavor, although as the name suggests, it’s a bit lighter than in a darker roasted Houjicha. Sweet and mild, with a barely noticeable astringency. A really nice cuppa.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/07/29/yunomi-monthly-mystery-tea-samplers-club-light-roast-houjicha-from-kyoto-obubu-tea-plantation/

This isn’t a sipdown, but now that I’ve made a full pot, it will be soon.

This is a tad astringent, but still quite soothing. The flavour is light, yet still present.

Mainly, though, I figured this would be an easy one to finish off, since it’s already open.