Kabuse from O-Cha. This is the last of the 5 organics I have had the opp to sample, it may be my fave of the 5. This strikes right up the middle between sencha and gyokuro, very nicely done! Full flavored, very smooth, sweet, complex with just hints of astringency and bitterness to remind the drinker this is not gyokuro.
I brewed this a bit cooler than recommended after I felt the first trial was brewed too hot. So, went 170* in a non preheated Kyusu. The first steep is quite amazing. Also went a gram per ounce water, much higher than recommended.
So, again this is the last of the 5 organics I have recently sampled from O-Cha. In summary I rank them this way:
Kabuse, Warashina Supreme ***** 5 stars in every category including flavor, aroma, ease of brewing, and value.
Oku Yutaka Pretty much 5 stars in every category as well, just not quite as regal as the above 2. This might be the best value of them all!
Ooigawa Supreme, mostly 5 stars.
Fuushun. Pretty much 4 stars. Not every sencha will be my fave. No complaints, just came off as a bit mild for my personal tastes.
And that is how I call 'em!
Feb 1st, '10, 14:11
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Re: Organic Tea
I have no problem with O-Cha or Japanese greens in general. I continue to drink them. I enjoy some more than others like everyone else. For my experience, (me, only), I have enjoyed teas from other vendors more than O-Cha. I think it is natural that when you don't find what you are looking for, you move on and try other things. It doesn't mean O-Cha sells bad tea. It also doesn't mean that we all should like the same thing. It just doesn't work that way. We are all different and experience things through a different vehicle. I am just expressing a different view. I have no axe to grind.
Feb 2nd, '10, 00:22
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Re: Organic Tea
Tead Off, no problem, I was just answering your question.
I do not expect everyone to like O-Cha, or any vendor for that matter. I try to give a vendor several opps especially when they have a very good reputation amongst the likes of TeaChatters. I would have to wonder, am I missing something that I do not want to miss???
I will go on a related tangent. I think the first two teas I ever ordered from O-Cha, their previous version of Kabuse and Hatsumi just did not float my boat. This was my first experiences with a vendor stationed in Japan.
Based upon a lot of input and recommendations on the O-Cha forum, I decided to give them another shot, and the rest is history. In fact, I even order Hatsumi every other year .. and the newer Kabusecha-s both really rock.
But please do find your own path, but if you ask a question, expect answers.
And as I always say, like what you drink, and drink what you like.
Tead Off wrote:Wouldn't you be a little reluctant to buy more if your experience was similar?
I do not expect everyone to like O-Cha, or any vendor for that matter. I try to give a vendor several opps especially when they have a very good reputation amongst the likes of TeaChatters. I would have to wonder, am I missing something that I do not want to miss???
I will go on a related tangent. I think the first two teas I ever ordered from O-Cha, their previous version of Kabuse and Hatsumi just did not float my boat. This was my first experiences with a vendor stationed in Japan.
Based upon a lot of input and recommendations on the O-Cha forum, I decided to give them another shot, and the rest is history. In fact, I even order Hatsumi every other year .. and the newer Kabusecha-s both really rock.
But please do find your own path, but if you ask a question, expect answers.
And as I always say, like what you drink, and drink what you like.
Re: Organic Tea
Thanks chip for those thoughtful reviews.
I think its about time to give Ocha a go pretty soon, surprised at myself for not exploring them yet considering all the good reviews they get, there's just so much out there my bladder can't handle it.
I think its about time to give Ocha a go pretty soon, surprised at myself for not exploring them yet considering all the good reviews they get, there's just so much out there my bladder can't handle it.
Feb 2nd, '10, 16:14
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Re: Organic Tea
Yeah, I try to sample a lot of teas ... but the list is getting longer and longer. 
And then O-Cha has seemingly doubled their listings in the last year!!! I am still playing catch up with them.
And then O-Cha has seemingly doubled their listings in the last year!!! I am still playing catch up with them.
Re: Organic Tea
I just finished up the last of the organics that I ordered from o-cha this spring/summer and overall I'm quite pleased with the quality. My two favorites were their org asamushi Warashina Supreme and their Okitsugawa Supreme, an org chumushi. Really tasty.
I also liked the Ooigawa Supreme, but not quite as much as the first two. It was worth the money, but I know I won't buy it again because it didn't blow me away and there's just so much other sencha out there that I want to try.
The Okitsugawa Miyabi was definitely my least favorite. I mean, I liked it simply because I like sencha...I'd rather drink it than a soft drink...but, IMHO, I found it to be a ho-hum sencha that couldn't last many infusions and went stale very quickly.
Overall, the organics from o-cha were a treat and I'll order from them again next spring/summer.
Right now I'm working on a bag of Rishi's "Nishi Sencha" that I got for Christmas. This is another really good organic sencha. It's supposedly an asamushi, but the brew is as emerald green as a fuka. Especially the second steep, really green-green. It tastes more like an asamushi, so I guess they know what they're talking about. It's an asa that wants to wear fuka's clothes and pulls it off. A crossdressing sencha. I love this gay tea.
I also liked the Ooigawa Supreme, but not quite as much as the first two. It was worth the money, but I know I won't buy it again because it didn't blow me away and there's just so much other sencha out there that I want to try.
The Okitsugawa Miyabi was definitely my least favorite. I mean, I liked it simply because I like sencha...I'd rather drink it than a soft drink...but, IMHO, I found it to be a ho-hum sencha that couldn't last many infusions and went stale very quickly.
Overall, the organics from o-cha were a treat and I'll order from them again next spring/summer.
Right now I'm working on a bag of Rishi's "Nishi Sencha" that I got for Christmas. This is another really good organic sencha. It's supposedly an asamushi, but the brew is as emerald green as a fuka. Especially the second steep, really green-green. It tastes more like an asamushi, so I guess they know what they're talking about. It's an asa that wants to wear fuka's clothes and pulls it off. A crossdressing sencha. I love this gay tea.