Thur/Fri TeaDay 9/15-16/11 Too much lately?

[twinofmunin]

I have overdone it on samples of oolongs on the greener end of the spectrum. :/

[Fuyou]

I recently received a batch of Hosen and Kumpuu from Ippodo and spent a week on the Hosen and then a few days on the Kumpuu trying to figure out how I want to brew them. I definitely got tired of the Hosen after a while.

May I ask how did it go ? Ippodo have their own parameters (high ratio, high temp). Do you agree with them ? Just curious.

I tried Ippodo's parameters (10g, 210ml, 80 degrees C, 60 seconds) on the Hosen, and while I can see why they like it, I personally found it too astringent. I like their gram to ml ratio, but for the Kumpuu I prefer 60 degrees C for 60 seconds, and the Hosen I increase that to 90 seconds. I think the teas are nice, but overall I prefer something a little sweeter. For my next big purchase, I think I'm going to try some kabusecha and gyokuro.

[David R.]

Thanks for the feedback. I began to drink sencha using Ippodo's parameters as they were my first serious experience with japanese green teas. Now, it's been a while since I tried their teas, but the more I drink sencha, the more I am moving towards this kind of parameters : cooler and longer. Still, I sometimes run into sencha that are at their best with a higher temp, but it is not often the case.

[CasualConnoisseur]

I went on an oolong binge some weeks back and couldn't bring myself to really want a cup of my favorite oolong for a while afterwards. I've been drinking blacks lately (they're growing on me), but I have a few of those crazy evenings coming up where I know I'll end up bringing some oolong in a thermos-- it's still my go-to everything tea.

[Chip]

I recently received a batch of Hosen and Kumpuu from Ippodo and spent a week on the Hosen and then a few days on the Kumpuu trying to figure out how I want to brew them. I definitely got tired of the Hosen after a while.

May I ask how did it go ? Ippodo have their own parameters (high ratio, high temp). Do you agree with them ? Just curious.

I tried Ippodo's parameters (10g, 210ml, 80 degrees C, 60 seconds) on the Hosen, and while I can see why they like it, I personally found it too astringent. I like their gram to ml ratio, but for the Kumpuu I prefer 60 degrees C for 60 seconds, and the Hosen I increase that to 90 seconds. I think the teas are nice, but overall I prefer something a little sweeter. For my next big purchase, I think I'm going to try some kabusecha and gyokuro.

I can remember years ago how crazy I thought Ippodo's parameters were ... now I am nearing these slowly but surely. I try to stick to around 1:1, but find myself going over the 1:1 ratio with great success. As I increased the ratio, my steep sizes have decreased to compensate ... and so as to not go broke.