Organic Tea

[Chip]

I didn't know that, so, that makes 2 of us.

I have the Yuuki fukamushi yutaka sencha. I use 6g per 120-140ml. 75c for 1min. 1st, 2nd 30-45sec. and keep going up. Some days I can get 5 pours.

This is about 1.5 grams per ounce water. So, you are certainly using more leaf.

[Tead Off]

Chip, what I didn't know was that Yuuki means organic. I knew to use more leaf that's why I posted.

[Chip]

Chip, what I didn't know was that Yuuki means organic. I knew to use more leaf that's why I posted.

Yeah, I got that, I was simply commenting on the amount of leaf which seemed to confirm my earlier recommendation for more leaf.

[Maitre_Tea]

Wow, using more leaf makes a HUGE difference. I think I'm enjoying my Sencha quite nicely. Another question I have, is organic Matcha similar to organic Sencha, in that I have to use more Matcha for each serving? If so, how much Matcha should I use?

[Chip]

Wow, using more leaf makes a HUGE difference. I think I'm enjoying my Sencha quite nicely. Another question I have, is organic Matcha similar to organic Sencha, in that I have to use more Matcha for each serving? If so, how much Matcha should I use?

Ocassionally I am correct.

I have had organic matcha and did not have to up the weight of matcha used, but this is limited exposure.

[Smells_Familiar]

i bought four organic sincha from o-cha this year but have only opened one... the "okitsugawa supreme". i tell ya, i like this tea. it's been treating me real nice and i've been blowin it kisses.

i've been using about 4 grams per 150 ml h2o. the first steep is around one minute with ~178*f water (kyusu not pre-heated). 2nd steep is at about the same temp, maybe a bit hotter, for ~20 sec. 3rd is maybe 184*f for one minute....so on and so forth. I can get four great cups and maybe a fifth, but it's really pushing it.

i think this is a really great organic sincha and a great sencha in general. for the last thirteen years 95% of my diet has consisted of organic food and i think it's time to make the "majority organic" commitment with teas as well...and with teas as good as this, i predict smooth, clean sailin'.

[Chip]

Thanks for sharing, Smells_Familiar. I have heard this is a really good one.

[iheartea]

Many of the best teas produced by small farms are not exported but are snapped up by savvy local merchants. It is the purity in the tea combined with the purity of the clays that I personally want to have.

High mountain Taiwan oolongs are often grown without pesticides because of the altitude and lack of bugs bothering the plants. These are some of the best teas in the world.

Hi Tead,
You couldn't have said it better, and I feel the same. Who are your favorite sources for Japanese green tea and high mountain Taiwan oolongs?
iheartea

[Maitre_Tea]

Speaking on Tead Off's behalf, because I've heard him mention it a few times...but Tea From Taiwan is a good place, and I think if you email them they'll give you all the info regarding organic certification. Most of the teas from Jing Tea Shop (IIRC) is organic, and the product page says so or not

[Tead Off]

Many of the best teas produced by small farms are not exported but are snapped up by savvy local merchants. It is the purity in the tea combined with the purity of the clays that I personally want to have.

High mountain Taiwan oolongs are often grown without pesticides because of the altitude and lack of bugs bothering the plants. These are some of the best teas in the world.

Hi Tead,
You couldn't have said it better, and I feel the same. Who are your favorite sources for Japanese green tea and high mountain Taiwan oolongs?
iheartea

So far, the best organic sencha, IMO, has come from Yuuki-Cha. I love their Kagoshima fukamushi Yutaka. Endless flavor and smooth quality. Heads and shoulders above O-cha's organic Fuka's, IMO. I have tried their Warashina which is good but much more expensive, and, their Fuukun which is mild and pleasant.

Recently, I was gifted with Hibiki-an's Sencha Premium (not organic). This is very good tea. I also have their Pinnacle Sencha which is waiting for me patiently to get through the stuff I have opened before digging into that.

I'm not sure why I don't like O-cha's organics. Maybe the Shizuoka style and varietal doesn't suit me.

[Smells_Familiar]

i've just finished my second organic sincha from o-cha, the "okitsugawa miyabi". i didn't like this as much as the "okitsugawa supreme". I could constantly get four steeps of good quality tea with the supreme, but four is really pushin it for the miyabi. i really only get three solid steeps out of the miyabi. that's ok, it's a slightly lower grade and was expected.

my biggest disappointment with the okitsugawa miyabi is that it lost it's freshness Very quickly (and i am totally anal about the storage environment my teas are in). the supreme didn't seem to have this problem.

ooigawa supreme is up next!

cheers

[iannon]

starting to run low on my greens..i havent ordered anything from o-cha yet ever..been stuck on Yuuki-cha and zencha recently. i may yet have to give them a go

[Tead Off]

starting to run low on my greens..i havent ordered anything from o-cha yet ever..been stuck on Yuuki-cha and zencha recently. i may yet have to give them a go

Yuuki-Cha is not a bad place to be stuck on. My next order will also be through them. I think they have the best organic greens I've found so far. Plus their shipping is very efficient and reasonable.

[teaisme]

Yuuki-Cha is not a bad place to be stuck on

agreed.

Organics can be a little bit more tricky to brew. Sometimes when it seems like the issue is leaf quantity it may be something else such as water temp, brew time, and water volume. Don't forget to adjust these also. In my opinion it seems like organics in general brew better at slightly lower temps then many parameters suggest.

Sometimes I am in a rush to get to work, or don't want multiple sessions with a kyoso, or I want an appetizer to my gongfu session. Or I want to sit down and drink 3-4 cups of different types of tea. In these situations , for many organic senchas, I...

Put one teaspoon (eating teaspoon) 1.5-2 grams into 12 oz glass mug with infuser and lid -> Pour water 170-180 on rim from a height until full -> let steep for at least 5 mins
By looking at the color (and also cloudiness depending on type of tea), you can tell when your tea is ready.

The tea does not get bitter as would typically happen with conventional brewing unless you want it to be bitter (longer time).
The temp drops drastically because the glass is very thin, and the lid is not as sealing so vapor can leave through the top quicker then the typical small hole in a kyoso. I also do not preheat. In fact I prerinse with purified water so the glass is a little colder to start with.
Also even though it is 12 oz cup, the infuser has weight to it, so when you pull it out you only have about 6-8 oz of tea in there.

This is not a good idea if you like your teas slightly hot or hot. I would call this more lukewarm but it sure does taste good. Plus the glass is aesthetically pleasing to look at, and useful for gauging adjustments. A very casual approach to brewing I think, in between cold brewing and hot brewing.

[Seeker]

Ordered and rec'd some organic gyokuro from O-cha. Thought I'd share my impressions.


Dry leaf in Deishi Hagi Houhin (leaf looks wet don't it? houhin is wet, warmed, but leaf is dry; leaf just added pre-swirl):


1st infusion (138f, 90s):


My impressions are that I don't like it much. I really, really like fuka's, and I think this is lightly steamed, not much umami (if any), but dominated by floral notes and a heaviness that accompanies the floral sort of sweetness and resides on the back of my tongue and throat. I do not like this kind of experience with gyo's.
I'm not concerned much with the quantity of leaf I used, probably not enough, but then more would have intensified the experience. I didn't measure the leaf, just intuited it with my scoop.
I definitely prefer the kame jiru shi.
I'd really like to find/try an organic gyo that has a good bit of umami and buttery-ness. I think I will try yuuki next?
Cheers.