Summer of Sencha 2010, etc.

[Chip]

Reminder!

OK, I have tried 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, or 103 this 2010 Japanese harvest. So which is it?

A free generously sized Japanese green tea sample to someone who guesses correctly! In the event of a tie, I will pull a name out of a TeaPot! So guess by posting by Monday at noon [Eastern USA time].

[Chip]

And the correct answer is ... also the most pop choice, 5 members picked 43 2010 sencha or similar type teas personally tasted this year to date.

Putting names in a hat to see who the winner is.

I will be posting some more details about the teas tasted now that the contest is over.

[tortoise]

And the correct answer is ... also the most pop choice, 5 members picked 43 2010 sencha or similar type teas personally tasted this year to date.

Putting names in a hat to see who the winner is.

I will be posting some more details about the teas tasted now that the contest is over.

I demand a re-count!

[Chip]

I demand a re-count!

I actually plan to list them all. Along with personal ratings. So you can count along!

[Marco]

Putting names in a hat to see who the winner is.

It has to be a teapot Chip

[Chip]

Putting names in a hat to see who the winner is.

It has to be a teapot Chip

Oh yeah ... forgot I had even said that a few days ago in this topic.

Into a Hagi Kyusu they go!

[Stentor]

I actually plan to list them all. Along with personal ratings.

Looking forward to this!

[Chip]

I actually plan to list them all. Along with personal ratings.

Looking forward to this!

Then I guess I should get moving on it.

[Chip]

Drum roll please!

Did the drawing this morning for the generous Sencha sample. 5 members guessed 43, the "most correct" number of sencha sampled/tasted from the 2010 harvest. The best guessers were NickE, Marco, Iannon, Gargoyle, and Debunix.

Put the names into a kyusu and the Mrs. pulled out Iannon's name as the winner! Congratualtions Ian!

[TwoPynts]

...Put the names into a kyusu and the Mrs. pulled out Iannon's name as the winner! Congratualtions Ian!

+1

[iannon]

[Chip]

Tasted/Sampled 2010 Japanese teas.

Each tea is followed by my personal rating of 1-5 with 5 being the highest. N/R = not rated, since this one vendor apparently does not want their teas honestly discussed on TeaChat w/o repercussions to the reviewer(s) on this forum, I will not offer the benefit of a rating.

2010 Shincha

DEN’S-Shizuoka unless stated otherwise
1. Hashiri Shincha 5
2. Kunpu Asamushi Shincha 4.5
3. Houryoku Fukamushi Shincha 4.25

MAEDA-EN
1. Shin-cha Gold 3
2. Shin-cha Hachijyuhachiya (88th Night) 3.5
3. Tokujo Shin-cha (Super Premium) 3.5

O-CHA
1. Sae Midori Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi 4.5
2. Yutaka Midori Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi 4.75
3. Ujibashi San no Ma (Kirameki)Shincha/Uji Asamushi 5
4. Yutaka Midori Kaoru Supreme LE Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi 5
5. Warashina Supreme Organic Shincha/Shizuoka Asamushi 4.75

ZENCHA
1. Takumi Shincha/Yame 4.75
2. Moe Shincha/Yame 4.25

GREENTEALOVERS
1. Kagoshima Shincha Fukamushi 3.75

MAIKOTEA-Uji unless stated otherwise
1. Kinari Shincha Asamushi 4.75
2. Sencha Shincha Asamushi 4.25
3. Shiawasecha 4.25

YUUKI-CHA
1. Sae Midori Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi N/R
2. Yuuki Yutaka Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi N/R
3. Magokuro Shincha/Kagoshima Fykamushi N/R
4. Atsatsuya Shincha/Kagoshima Fukamushi N/R
5. Tenryu Misakubo Shincha/Shizuoka Asamushi N/R
6. Kanayamidori Shincha/Shizuoka Asamushi N/R

HIBIKI-AN-Uji/Kyoto unless stated otherwise
1. Shincha Traditional Asamushi LE 4.25
2. Shincha Fukamushi LE 4.25

RISHITEA
1. Nishi-san’s Shincha Sae Midori/Kagoshima Fukamushi 4.75
2. Nishi-san’s Shincha Organic (Yabukita?)/Kagoshima Asamushi 4.5
3. Kukicha Shincha 4.75

Adagio
1. Fukamushi Shincha 3.75

NON SHINCHA!

DEN’S
1. Yame 4.5
2. Shin-ryoku 4.5

MAIKO
1. Shuppin 5
2. Hachiju-hachiya 4.75
3. Maruyama 4.5

TOGEI
1. Really Cheap 4.25

ZENCHA
1. Fuji the Ultimate 5
2. Fuji SP 5
3. Fuga SP 4.5

O-CHA
1. Miyabi 5
2. Hatsumi 4.5
3. YM Kaoro Supreme 5
4. Gyo Kame 5

ADAGIO
1. Premier 4.75

[entropyembrace]

congrats iannon!

since Chip asked for details and posted his list I´ll do the same...

1-10 scale for me 10 being best

O-cha

Sakura Sencha - simple, sweet and satisfying very sublte cherry 8

Genmaicha with Matcha - nice toasty flavours and gives a bit of matcha boost...good for when I´m in the mood for it 6

Daily Sencha - Gives a bit of the soupy richness of higher grade senchas though not as intense...easy to overbrew. Good value though. 6

Yutaka Midori Kaoru Supreme - Exceptional! Soupy, buttery and sweet 10

Sae Midori - Was quite variable but delicious both times I brewed it 8

Ooigawa Supreme - Very light and lively. Refreshing astringency and taste of minerals and herbs 9

Maiko

Shincha Sencha - The only Asa I tried this year....was nice but a bit simple. A good value tea. Has me wanting to try more Asa soon. 7

Dens

Houryoku - Similar flavour profile to the YM Kaoru Supreme but not as intense 9

Steeps

Organic Sencha - It was very bland...ended roasting it to make Houjicha 2

Green Tea Lovers

Oishi Ichibancha - Was very grassy the first time I brewed it and got toasted grain notes the 2nd...very variable but I did like the 2nd session. 6

Kagoshima Sencha - was a bit astringent and bitter but not unpleasantly so, had good umami too 7

Zencha

Fuga Super Premium - This one grew on me the more I drank it. Long lasting for a sencha I was getting 6+ infusions per session. Very bright green, herbal lots of umami 10

[iannon]

ok..lemme see..
Zencha Takumi and Fuji the ultimate shinchas..both excellent
Maiko Kinari! yumm
Yuuki: Tenryu & Sayamakaori
O-cha Warashina Supreme
3 from Iruma..quite different but good plus the Temomi
and Adagio's shincha..okay

[Chip]

Thanks Entropy and Iannon. Great to see more details!

Entropy, so kewl to see the direct impact of an OTTI and to see your enjoyment of new teas as a direct result. Sure beats that crapper sencha you had before.

BTW, the next OTTI will feature non shin sencha.