2 years later, Asa, Chu, Fuka: name your 'mushicha!

[olivierco]

If I had only one choice, it would be asamushi but I fortunately don't have to make a choice: I drink all kinds of (good of course) senchas.

Two years later: 90% asamushi 10% fukamushi

[Chip]

Good idea Olivier!

2 years ago ...

Generally speaking, fuka, chu, and then asa in that order, but I have selections I enjoy mucho in each category. But for ease of brewing and deepest flavor, fukamushi, ftw!

... and ...

Hmmm, I have come to realize that Asamushi helps me to appreciate Fukamushi. Fukamushi helps me to appreciate Asamushi. I gravitate back and forth on any given day, rarely having fuka after fuka ... and definitely NOT asa after asa

Then there is Chumushi, not sure where that fits in except it is nice to have this option when I am not in the mood for asa nor fuka.

I seem to like to have an asa or a chu + a fuka open. This is a nice and complimentary menu to have available. If I have 3 open, one of each is ideal.

I would grow bored with only asa or only fuka.

I would stick pretty much with what I said back then today.

[edkrueger]

People... when will you get that fukamushi is a processing flaw... and an attempt to hide growing flaws...

[AdamMY]

People... when will you get that fukamushi is a processing flaw... and an attempt to hide growing flaws...

While I prefer Asamushi, probably by a wide margin, I will admit that there is something about Fuka that makes it nice to have as another option. It may have started as a processing flaw, but it seems to have grown into its own style, and offers a bit more variety than can be obtained from just using different varietals.

[Chip]

I too like asa, but man ... a good fuka Yutaka Midori will blow your freakin' mind.

Seriously, it makes you sit up and take notice like no other sencha I know of.

I always make sure I have a fuka and an asa open.

[entropyembrace]

People... when will you get that fukamushi is a processing flaw... and an attempt to hide growing flaws...

It sure is a tasty processing flaw

same with smoky puerh

crackles in glaze in teaware is a flaw too

and little spots in the glaze from iron reduction

sometimes flaws are beautiful

[Chip]

+1

I would not have thought of it that way ... it seems I prefer flawed in many things versus perfection. And I tend to be a perfectionist if I am not careful, so quite a juxtaposition!

[Nenugal]

I'm trying hard to find out "what the heck"... it is made more difficult by my first two senchas being very uninformative about which category they belong to, so I have to guess that they are both somewhat chu'ish. To find out more, I have just ordered Yutaka Midori "Kaoru Supreme LE" from o-cha to discover what fukamushi tastes like, I hope this one is representative for what a good fuka should taste like?
For asamushi, i'm considering either Organic Asamushi Sencha "Warashina Supreme" or Organic Kabusecha, but I'm afraid the latter would be less representative since it is also partly shaded? Any other suggestions for getting to know these categories?

[Chip]

I'm trying hard to find out "what the heck"... it is made more difficult by my first two senchas being very uninformative about which category they belong to, so I have to guess that they are both somewhat chu'ish. To find out more, I have just ordered Yutaka Midori "Kaoru Supreme LE" from o-cha to discover what fukamushi tastes like, I hope this one is representative for what a good fuka should taste like?
For asamushi, i'm considering either Organic Asamushi Sencha "Warashina Supreme" or Organic Kabusecha, but I'm afraid the latter would be less representative since it is also partly shaded? Any other suggestions for getting to know these categories?

Good choices Nenugal! YM Supreme is an awesome fukamushi, it is also the best YM out there IMHO.

I would 2nd the Warashina Supreme idea for asamushi!

2 excellent choices.

The regular Kabuse is very representative of yet another class of tea, kabuse, and would be a good one to try if you were curious of Kabuse.

[iannon]

I'm trying hard to find out "what the heck"... it is made more difficult by my first two senchas being very uninformative about which category they belong to, so I have to guess that they are both somewhat chu'ish. To find out more, I have just ordered Yutaka Midori "Kaoru Supreme LE" from o-cha to discover what fukamushi tastes like, I hope this one is representative for what a good fuka should taste like?
For asamushi, i'm considering either Organic Asamushi Sencha "Warashina Supreme" or Organic Kabusecha, but I'm afraid the latter would be less representative since it is also partly shaded? Any other suggestions for getting to know these categories?

Good choices Nenugal! YM Supreme is an awesome fukamushi, it is also the best YM out there IMHO.

I would 2nd the Warashina Supreme idea for asamushi!

2 excellent choices.

The regular Kabuse is very representative of yet another class of tea, kabuse, and would be a good one to try if you were curious of Kabuse.

+1 on the Warashina! its a very very nice Asa in my opinion as well..Atleast i quite enjoyed it!

[edkrueger]

How do you "cover up" flavorless food? over salt!
How do you "cover up" flavorless tea? over steam!

[Chip]

*FFGS* I agree, fortunately good fuka is steamed perfectly, and good asa is also steamed perfectly.

As I always say, drink what you like, like what you drink.

There is no right or wrong in this, only personal prefs.

[edkrueger]

I'm not a relativist.

[Chip]

I'm not a relativist.

We can agree on this, which I guess makes you an absolutist?

Clearly I am a relativist.

[entropyembrace]

How do you "cover up" flavorless food? over salt!
How do you "cover up" flavorless tea? over steam!

How do you know that fuka is flavorless before it was steamed? Have you ever pulled a sample tea destined to be premium fuka out of processing right before it was steamed and tried it?