Kokeicha

[Photiou]

Could not find a thread here about kokeicha (needle shaped leaves made from green tea paste/matcha). So have you tried it? Was it any good? Where did you buy it? ... etc.

[Victoria]

I have a sample from here but I haven't tried it yet - nice pic though and some add'l info:

http://www.nmteaco.com/Kokeicha_p_7-225.html

[chamekke]

So this tea is made from tea leaves that have been ground into a powder, with that powder then being reconstituted back into needles (pseudo-leaves)?

I'm intrigued. Do you steep this tea and remove the "leaves"? Or are they intended to eventually dissolve into the hot water?

[Victoria]

So this tea is made from tea leaves that have been ground into a powder, with that powder then being reconstituted back into needles (pseudo-leaves)?

Correct.

I'm intrigued. Do you steep this tea and remove the "leaves"? Or are they intended to eventually dissolve into the hot water?

Having it now, the leaves did not dissolve. The dry leaf smells like matcha. The liquid is gold not green. The taste is of a mild Chinese green, as close as I can tell. Other nuances are lost on me, I will forward to Chip for his expert evaluation.

.

[Chip]

So this tea is made from tea leaves that have been ground into a powder, with that powder then being reconstituted back into needles (pseudo-leaves)?

Correct.

I'm intrigued. Do you steep this tea and remove the "leaves"? Or are they intended to eventually dissolve into the hot water?

Having it now, the leaves did not dissolve. The dry leaf smells like matcha. The liquid is gold not green. The taste is of a mild Chinese green, as close as I can tell. Other nuances are lost on me, I will forward to Chip for his expert evaluation.
.

So called "spaghetti tea!"

I had it one time as a sample around 6 or so years ago. I thought it was lighter green color?

If resteeped it does turn to mush.

[Victoria]

If resteeped it does turn to mush.

No worries there.

[chamekke]

Mush tea!

Sounds good

[Sam.]

I will then ask the expert?????

So called "spaghetti tea!"

I had it one time as a sample around 6 or so years ago. I thought it was lighter green color?

If resteeped it does turn to mush.

I was going to say the exact same thing -- spaghetti tea! I'd never heard of this, it sounds very interesting. What's the purpose of forming matcha into faux tea leaves?

Also, anyone else envisioning alphabet or stars & moons shaped tea?!

[Chip]

So called "spaghetti tea!"

I had it one time as a sample around 6 or so years ago. I thought it was lighter green color?

If resteeped it does turn to mush.

I was going to say the exact same thing -- spaghetti tea! I'd never heard of this, it sounds very interesting. What's the purpose of forming matcha into faux tea leaves?
Also, anyone else envisioning alphabet or stars & moons shaped tea?!

You brew it instead of whisking it...so, easier to prepare. It is also not high grade matcha...if it is truly matcha. I think it is a byproduct tea if memory serves me right.

[chamekke]

Also, anyone else envisioning alphabet or stars & moons shaped tea?!

OMG! "They're always after me Lucky Charms!"



Yes. Yes, I am visualizing that

P.S. It really wouldn't surprise me if some Japanese tea producer did press the powdered tea into various pretty shapes. They do it already with incense (sadly, this shaped incense - called inko - is not sold outside Japan as far as I know).

[Pentox]

I've had it. I really did not like it very much. It's a novelty of shape that doesn't mean anything considering what it is made from.

[nmteaco]

When customers ask me what it tastes like i generally describe it as having the sweetness of Matcha, with the lightness of a Sencha.

I try to avoid calling it spaghetti tea, i like "tea pasta" better. But i often find myself saying the word "extrude" and all hope is lost!

-David (Owner - NM Tea Co.)