Green Kukicha taste

[Kunkali]

Is anyone else reminded of drinking something that had cooked broccoli in it when drinking green kukicha?

[Chip]

I am reminded of a tropical sea breeze, very nice. Also a citrus background. If brewed hotter, it will get more veggie.

[Kunkali]

Still tastes a little like spinach with some faint lilac to it...but haven't tasted any tropical yet

[Chip]

Your kukicha might simply be more veggie ... kukicha is byproduct tea. So you never exactly know what goes into the mix.

[Kunkali]

I'm going to be trying a karigane gyokuro green kukicha when i get over my most recent spending spree. I wonder how that one will be

[Chip]

I personally prefer the more sencha based kukicha aka sencha karigane. If I get the gyo karigane I usually end up using it in personal blends which is quite good.

But gyo karigane has a good following.

[Kunkali]

To you, what is the difference in flavor between the sencha and gyo kukichas. Why do you favor sencha one over gyo?

[Chip]

The sencha version is more refreshing and sencha like.

The gyo version, I just do not prefer the karigane version. It has been a few years since I had it, but I tried around 5 or so different ones. They were OK, and I did finish each one.

But it tastes very good blended with sencha ... gives sencha a deep and different flavor.

But it is all about personal preferences, please try it, you might love the stuff.

BTW, there are all kinds of variations on the theme. Some karigane will have all gyo components. Some will have gyo viens/stems combined with a small amount of sencha leaf. Some will have a complete mix of sencha/gyo components, etc.

[Kunkali]

Where do you normally buy your sencha kukicha?

[Chip]

It is not something I constantly have on hand, maybe getting a craving for it every 12-18 months.

In the past I have gotten it from Hibiki-an, Den's and Rishi (shincha version this year which is no longer listed, they have one, but it is not the same one). They were all pretty good.

[Kunkali]

For some reason my paste function isn't working right now, but would you recommend www.greentea-japan.com 's first flush isshin kukicha?

[Chip]

Sorry, I can't help you with that vendor. So many vendors, so little time for tea. I have them on my long list to try.