Ippodo's Kaboku

[ummaya]

Today I received a 100g bag of Kaboku from Ippodo and as I usually do when I try a new type of tea I first brewed it exactly according the instructions that come with the tea: 2 heaping (10g) tablespoons of tea leaves ( I used the spoon that comes with the Ippodo's tea bag) for 210ml of water at 80C for 1 minute.
The result was something almost undrinkable for me; a very strong tea ( too strong for my taste) and above all too much bitter, the bitterest tea I have ever brewed

The second time I used only one teaspoon of leaves(the Ippodo plastic teaspoon) with 175 ml water at 78C for one minute and a half. It was much smoother,more delicate but still had a strong bitter after taste. I will go on trying different brewing styles but meanwhile can those among you that have some experience with Ippodo's Kaboku tell me how they brew it ?
Thank you.

[Chip]

Ippodo's recommendation of 10 grams has always struck me as excessive leaf. I think very few teas can be used at that strength.

I would try 1 gram leaf per ounce of water which is a pretty good asamushi ratio. The Ippodo ratio is almost 1.5 grams per ounce water.

Also, if you like a lighter sencha brew, try it with less leaf, about .6 grams per ounce water.

[ummaya]

Ippodo's recommendation of 10 grams has always struck me as excessive leaf.

Thank you Chip. Yep, that's exactly what I thought when I read their instructions. I knew I am going to get something strong but not that strong!

if you like a lighter sencha brew, try it with less leaf, about .6 grams per ounce water.

That's what I did right now and the result was fine but I was not blown away. That's my second try with asamushi; the first one was the O-Cha Organic Warashina Supreme which was superb.

[Tead Off]

Ippodo's recommendation of 10 grams has always struck me as excessive leaf.

Thank you Chip. Yep, that's exactly what I thought when I read their instructions. I knew I am going to get something strong but not that strong!

if you like a lighter sencha brew, try it with less leaf, about .6 grams per ounce water.

That's what I did right now and the result was fine but I was not blown away. That's my second try with asamushi; the first one was the O-Cha Organic Warashina Supreme which was superb.

It's funny to me to read all the different suggestions on brewing time and which teas one really likes. It becomes so obvious that all of this is so subjective and that each of us has to find our own way.

I like the Warashina Supreme from O-Cha but I was not blown away. Olivierco suggested this to me. It is pleasant to me but not great. Both you and Olivierco really like this tea. In another post, I mentioned I really loved the Horaido Sench Premium. Another poster was unimpressed with it. I don't think we can ever all agree in these matters.

I thought the Warashina was best between 65-70c, and, as Chip suggests, 1g per 30ml. My 1st infusion is 1-1.25 minutes. 2nd-up to 30sec. 3rd-45sec-1minute. I like the sweet umami I can get with low temp. Some like the astringent quality with higher temp. We have to play with all these parameters to see what works with our own body chemistry. This is about the only conclusion I can come to. Happy brewing.

[Mrs. Chip]

It's funny to me to read all the different suggestions on brewing time and which teas one really likes. It becomes so obvious that all of this is so subjective and that each of us has to find our own way.
I like the sweet umami I can get with low temp. Some like the astringent quality with higher temp. We have to play with all these parameters to see what works with our own body chemistry. This is about the only conclusion I can come to. Happy brewing.

+1 Tead Off. Even the Mod and I don't always have the same agreement on which are the best parameters to follow for our own individual preferences ... altho' Chip usually wins this battle in our home!

Seriously, it is great that TeaChat affords us the opportunities to discuss our preferences & differences and that there is really no 'right way' (Shhhhhh, don't tell Chip I said that )

And we get to enjoy our personal TeaJourney with others of like TeaMinds here.

[Oni]

Please note that if you use harder water than 200 miligrams/liter, your tea will come out bitter, hard water makes Japanese tea bitter and undrinkable, use brita filter or you will ruin your tea, or buy some soft water and try it.
One other thing, tetsubin + Banko purple clay or Tokoname clay all have magic properties of reducing bitterness, I only have a banko, but I need to use more leaf with it than compared to porcelain, because it greatly reduces bitterness, makes tea smooth, great quality sencha is strong, that is a good thing, it has a lot of "tea material" in the leafes, you need to brew it right to experience the magic, so buy bottled soft water, use a little bit less leaf and less temperature, do not use yuzamashi (minimize heat loss of the tea), only cups and kyusu pour alteratively, calculate the pouring time in and start pouring at 50 seconds.
Hojotea wrote that the effect of the reduced iron tetsubin is far greater than the effect of banko, so I am really tempted to buy, I am satisfied with clay kyusu, I cannot imagine what my tea would taste like if I brew it with the right equipment and water.

[olivierco]

Today I received a 100g bag of Kaboku from Ippodo and as I usually do when I try a new type of tea I first brewed it exactly according the instructions that come with the tea: 2 heaping (10g) tablespoons of tea leaves ( I used the spoon that comes with the Ippodo's tea bag) for 210ml of water at 80C for 1 minute.
The result was something almost undrinkable for me; a very strong tea ( too strong for my taste) and above all too much bitter, the bitterest tea I have ever brewed

The second time I used only one teaspoon of leaves(the Ippodo plastic teaspoon) with 175 ml water at 78C for one minute and a half. It was much smoother,more delicate but still had a strong bitter after taste. I will go on trying different brewing styles but meanwhile can those among you that have some experience with Ippodo's Kaboku tell me how they brew it ?
Thank you.

Kaboku has been one of my favourite sencha for now a long time.
Now, as for all my asamushi (light steamed) sencha, I drink it at about 5g for 120ml (the ratio Ippodo recommends), 60-70s but only 70°C (preheated).
When I started drinking Kaboku, I used less leaf (3g for 120ml) but I guess the sense of bitterness diminishes with time.
As Oni pointed out, trying different kind of water might change the bitterness of your tea.
I don't believe however about magic effect of clay for Japanese greens. I brew them very often in porcelain houhins.

[ummaya]

Wow!

olivierco, I just brewed a cup according your recommendation: 5~6g and 120 ml water (my water is always filtered with Brita) at 70C for 70 seconds and it was great. I think I start to like this tea.

Amazing what 10 little degrees Celsius less can do!


Thanks.

[olivierco]

I am glad you found it to your taste!
If you like asamushi sencha, I may recommend you Ujibashi san no ma (Tsuen sold by o-cha) aka Kirameki when sold as shincha.

[Oni]

I want to try sencha Teki Teki, from marukyu koyamaen, that tea always competes as one of Uji`s best sencha, and the company intends to make it the best from this region, 50 $ is quite a lot but I am really curious.

[fnord]

I want to try sencha Teki Teki, from marukyu koyamaen, that tea always competes as one of Uji`s best sencha, and the company intends to make it the best from this region, 50 $ is quite a lot but I am really curious.

i tried teki teki last month
really a great tea.very well balanced.
it's quite expensive and i didn't think it's double as good as a sencha for half the price,but i would buy it again for sure.

[Oni]

Did you buy it directly from the main company online, or a retailer?

[fnord]

i bought from a retailer,but i think they ordered it from koyamaen after i made my order.
i'm waitin for my creditcard so i can order directly

[Oni]

It is uncomfortable to fax the credit card data, but it is worth a lot, you can get the tea much cheaper, once they get your data I assume you can order whenever you want until your creditcard expires.