TeaChat

So while strolling around my Whole Foods, I was eyeing the Kukicha...and decided what the hell, let's give it a whirl.

I get home and ask my loving friends using the instant messenger how they prefer there Kuki, and the method i end up going with was a first brew of one minute. a second brew of about 20 or 30 seconds, and a final brew of one minute.

The first two cups were delicious but the third was a little too watery, maby a minute 15 seconds next time?

But I was wondering, how do the rest of you brew? I saw that Rishi reccomended 3 minutes at a nice 180.....

All in all i loved the tea, and probably preferable to me than, dare a say it, Fukamushi....

With kuki, I've never gotten a bad brew. I just loosely follow sencha parameters, but go a little hotter with the water.

Say... ~178°F for 1.5 minutes, then 40s, 60s.

That never leads me astray, but I don't drink much kuki either. I've only ever had 3 types.

By the way, if you're enjoying the tastes of twig tea, you have GOT to try out Hibiki-an's Karigane Sencha(which is their kukicha, in which they use gyokuro stems instead of sencha stems!). That stuff is a whole 'nother brew!

I second the hibikli-an karigane ssencha comment. That stuff is simply outstanding.

I vary a little from fatali with brewing. I like to use 5 grams per 200 ml, 175*, 1 min.

I am easily able to get 4-6 steeps if it is good karigane. Plus it is low caffeine.

If you are brewing gyoluro karigane, the temp is much lower.

I like 6 grams and 1.5 minutes myself, but I use a bit more water than 200 ml, between 210 and 240 i'd say.

i saddly have no way of measuring my teas grams...merely a teaspoon...:-/

A level teaspoon of kuki seems to be about 2.5 grams.

Any takers on this one...


How long will a good kukicha (Sencha Karigane from Hibiki-an) last for if stored properly (opened, not in cold storage. In bag, inside tin)?

Let's see...I received my Hibiki karigane Sept. 13, opened it immediately, and it is still wonderful. So at least 2 months and 12 days.