Official what GREEN are you currently drinking?

[sherubtse]

I've started on O-Cha's newly-reformulated Daily Sencha. Brewing at lower than normal/recommended temps. (60-70 deg.) yields a very pleasant, at times delicious, drink. Very good value indeed for the price!

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[MIKE_B]

Organic Honyama Gyokuro Haku-un from Yuuki-Cha. Using my brandy-new kyusu.
I thought the first infusion was the best. The next two were a bit cloudy and a little bitter. Most likely a user-error. I'm not so well versed in Japanese tea.

[iannon]

Organic Honyama Gyokuro Haku-un from Yuuki-Cha. Using my brandy-new kyusu.
I thought the first infusion was the best. The next two were a bit cloudy and a little bitter. Most likely a user-error. I'm not so well versed in Japanese tea.

cloudy is pretty normal for most 2nd/3rd infusions of japanese green tea. Not as much on the Gyo's i drink but it also depends on the steaming level of the particular tea..more steamed usually means more cloudy. Bitter probably is somewhat due to whatever time/temp ratio you used..Just guessing

[Chip]

... just opened Watsuka organic asamushi sencha from O-Cha. I think this one is an instant winner! Nice veggie character mellowing into sweet nectar in later steeps.

Very nice indeed. I favor this so far over the Silver ... both are good, but the flavor profile of Watsuka favors my personal tastes.

Well, after 2 sessions anyway.

It is really quite amazing that this is organic. It is a very good organic sencha.

[Chip]

Ureshino Tamaryokucha (Guricha) Gokujo. I really like this Guricha. This and the Tokujo level are both really nice examples of Guricha. There is enough veggie character to these, and that is a bit unusual for guricha which seems usually too soft for my tastes.

Easy brewers, good travel steamed greens.

The Gokujo had more staying power so far, going fairly strongly to 5 steeps where as the Tokujo struggles past 3 ...

[Chip]

Organic Honyama Gyokuro Haku-un from Yuuki-Cha. Using my brandy-new kyusu.
I thought the first infusion was the best. The next two were a bit cloudy and a little bitter. Most likely a user-error. I'm not so well versed in Japanese tea.

cloudy is pretty normal for most 2nd/3rd infusions of japanese green tea. Not as much on the Gyo's i drink but it also depends on the steaming level of the particular tea..more steamed usually means more cloudy. Bitter probably is somewhat due to whatever time/temp ratio you used..Just guessing

I am a bit reluctant to say much about this vendor due to my past experiences with Yuuki-cha and organic gyokuro in general.

But it is virtually impossible to match inorganic gyokuro due to the heavy fertilization required to produce higher end gyokuro. I have had more than my share of less than desirable organic gyokuro ... one from this vendor.

Price point of 18 USD for 50 grams is pretty low for a gyokuro. I just don't think you are going to get the mind blowing experience of a higher end gyokuro that is produced "conventionally."

As Iannon mentioned and you did as well, brewing could certainly play a very big factor. Gyokuro is certainly more challenging to brew, takes some practice.

I am not anti organic, see my post on organic Watsuka a few posts up. I just think gyokuro and organic gyokuro are very divergent animals ... so to speak. And organic gyokuro has not made the advances on the level of organic sencha-s.

IMHO

[Chip]

A tale of two very good gyokuro, Readers' Digest version.

Kame Jiru-shi Gyokuro and Yume no Ukihashi Gyokuro. Brewing both at at least 2 grams per ounce water, 125* F or lower, 50*ish C. 90 seconds for the first steep. Small steeps usually of 2-3 ounces. Both will be viscous at this ratio.

These are both very good gyos.

The Kame has been a personal fave gyokuro for several years, since it was first offered by O-Cha. It is a mind blowing experience and at a very good price point I feel. It is not cheap, but being available in 50 grammers makes it quite doable.

With the Kame thoughts of soupy, umami, sea, salt, sweet come to mind. This sounds odd albeit, but it is really great gyo.

The Yume, a bit higher class, definitely sweeter, less salty, less sea sensation compared to Kame.

You could put these two side by side in a tasting and you would love each (I think) and would be shocked at the differences between the two.

[Stentor]

... just opened Watsuka organic asamushi sencha from O-Cha. I think this one is an instant winner! Nice veggie character mellowing into sweet nectar in later steeps.

Very nice indeed. I favor this so far over the Silver ... both are good, but the flavor profile of Watsuka favors my personal tastes.

Well, after 2 sessions anyway.

It is really quite amazing that this is organic. It is a very good organic sencha.

Thank you, that's good to know. I am going to include both in my next order. I am really interested in experiencing the difference between the Silver and the Gold. LOVE the Gold. I hope they won't run out of stock anytime soon.

[tortoise]

I'm drinking a lot of Chiran sencha from O-Cha these days.

[sherubtse]

I'm drinking a lot of Chiran sencha from O-Cha these days.

I'll be opening my bag of the stuff on Monday. Looking forward to it.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[MIKE_B]

On my second steeping of organic Gunpowder from Seven Cups.
Not awful, but not great either.

[wh&yel-apprentice]

On my second steeping of organic Gunpowder from Seven Cups.
Not awful, but not great either.

2010 or 2011? was it strong in flavor?

Yin Gou Mei Cha (Silver Fish Hook Eyebrow) Green Tea 2010 I tried the other night was medium-'robust'; but I didn't like the assertive grassy/vegetal flavor. Over-steeped it for 5+min on the 2nd infusion and it got a bit bitter, but the somewhat sickly feeling I had down my throat/stomach after drinking it all left me not wanting to make that mistake again

[Cole]

Just ordered a new batch of teas from Thes Du Japon, so in the meanwhile I'm going to be working through what I have left from O-Cha and Den's.

Today was a nice, relaxing cup of Fukamushi Sencha Yame -- I brewed it a little too weak for my liking (6g in a ~320g tokonome kyusu), but I was still able to make it stretch across 4 steepings. Very nice fruity notes afterwards with a pleasant mouthfeel!

[sherubtse]

Just ordered a new batch of teas from Thes Du Japon, so in the meanwhile I'm going to be working through what I have left from O-Cha and Den's.

Which teas did you order from Thes du Japon, Cole? I am looking for suggestions for an upcoming order.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[David R.]

I'd go for this one first without hesitation. That one is not far from being my favourite too... Many beautiful teas from my point of view.