Tuesday TeaDay 1/27/09 Korean tea?

[Shelob]

I thought I was posting this here earlier, but apparently I put it in the wrong thread!

Duh, I posted there Scruff and didn't even realize I was in the other thread!
But, like I said over there Thanks!

[scruffmcgruff]

I will consume the (now) aged matcha this afternoon and the get to the yellow Oo tonight or tomorrow. Really ...

Thanks for sending it.

Not a problem! Seriously, take your time, I didn't send you those samples with the intent of making them a burden.

Nice review of the Hwang Cha "Yellow" tea. Nice pics too! I have that same chataku from Hankook, and that looks like the new fishy cup I just got at WHF. Looks like I am retracing your steps!

Haha, thanks. Now that I think about it, I never posted pictures of the koryo cup I got from Hankook, like I said I would... I'll get on that soon.

[Victoria]

Nice review of the Hwang Cha "Yellow" tea. Nice pics too! I have that same chataku from Hankook, and that looks like the new fishy cup I just got at WHF. Looks like I am retracing your steps!

Haha, thanks. Now that I think about it, I never posted pictures of the koryo cup I got from Hankook, like I said I would... I'll get on that soon.

Oh yeah! I forgot too! Get on that!!! MOAR TEAWARE!!

[Salsero]

OK, one dose of Korean matcha down the hatch. About what you might expect from matcha that has been subjected to legendary amounts of abuse! Still, it was an enjoyable drink ... lemon curd aroma and surprisingly spicy taste in this tired powder. Quite a sturdy backbone to this matcha, but the more ephemeral characteristics undoubted fled some time back. Thank heavens I have Scruff's notes to learn what it used to be like.

[Shelob]

BTW Sal, lovin' that magnolia cup! Schweeet!

Oops, in my cup a blend of 3 japanese green remains!

[JP]

I do recall that I have had Korean tea, but I don't remember any details about it or how it impressed me.

[Salsero]

I do recall that I have had Korean tea, but I don't remember any details about it or how it impressed me.

Hey that sounds just like the two I have had ... forgettable.

[Ryoruki]

I'm having some Yunnan gold while i write Statements of intent for grad school, woohoo!

[chrl42]

the Koreans and the Chinese share the same new year, cos east asians use lunar system when counting dates. so did the Japanese until some 19C.

[murrius]

I had some gyokuro but messed up the brewing

and some Adgio #40 oolong which was nicer but didn't seem to be as tasty as I made it yesterday. I think my beginners luck is over- at least I have a snow day today to practice!!

I think I'll try reinfusing the gyokuro later this afternoon.

Gyokuro brewing takes some practice but it is worth it. The two main ways of going wrong are using water that is too hot or letting it steep too long. If you are not happy with any of your green teas you will never go wrong starting with a lower temp and shorter steep. A third hint may be to use less leaf as well. Tea is a study in trial and error to find your personal taste.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

Sal, I love your magnolia cup!

I have a sample of Korean Oolong from the oolong box pass. I have not tried it yet though I have been staring at my sample tin of it in curiosity of what it is and what vendor it came from since the bag of it was mysteriously labeled as "Korean Oolong" with no other information. I will try it eventually. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

Today, I started with Water Sprite Oolong from TeaSource sipped from a travel mug and thermos. I immediately made some Yutaka Midori as soon as I got home to make up for the lack of excitement in the first tea.

[Victoria]

I have a sample of Korean Oolong from the oolong box pass. I have not tried it yet though I have been staring at my sample tin of it in curiosity of what it is and what vendor it came from since the bag of it was mysteriously labeled as "Korean Oolong" with no other information. I will try it eventually. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

Yeah, that's mine. The first Korean oolong I found. Looks a hundred years old - and not in a pu way. All dry with twigs and sticks. Actually it wasn't bad tasting - kinda ordinary - probably worse now though. Very roasted.

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

No Korean tea for me.......havent really ever looked for it either though......I have really been drinking nothing but Jap. greens as of late...perhaps it will change, but I find it doubtful
*Currently drinking Gyokuro Karigane Premium from Hibiki-an......it is quite different from other Kariganes I have had before....havent really decided yet if I like it better than a good Sencha Karigane.....the sweetness is really nice but I dont get the same thick feel on my tongue that I get from the sencha karigane.

-Nick

[Salsero]

Thanks to my generous host, Scruff McGruff, showing up just in time today, I had my second Korean tea of the day! ... and the fourth of my life.

Chigarok Hwang-cha or Yellow Oolong. Looking at the leaves, I would have assumed it was a black tea it is so dark. The Hankook site says that it is "oxidized about 3/4 of the way." The liquor looks as bright and red as an hibiscus tisane. I brewed it 3.50 gr to 6 oz boiling water for 3 minutes then another steep for 4 minutes. Scruff's generous evaluation can be found in the links above to his great blog. As for me, it reminds me of *cough, cough* syrup.

Perhaps I need to play with the parameters a bit.

[Chip]

Sal, I may be trying that tea by weeks end.

Fukamushi Tenho from TJGTS a little earlier.

To end the day, Kyul Myeong from Hankook, very much like barley tea. This is a heavy roast version. I can only say it is a grain similar to barley and do not really know what it is.