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Cameron B. drank Sencha Golden Kasugaen by Nio Teas

4266 tasting notes

Nio Teas Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 24 (2/3)

Not sure if this is the golden sencha made from the cultivar that has actual golden leaves, but I assume not since it’s not mentioned in the description.

This is a lovely sencha though. It has a very powerful, almost gyokuro-like sweet vegetal and umami flavor. Plenty of sweetness, and a refreshing fruitiness that reminds me of starfruit. There’s a touch of grassiness at the end of the sip, but it’s quite subtle, and maybe even a bit closer to salad greens. It’s a very nicely balanced tea, with the rich vegetal and umami notes contrasting well with fresher grass and fruit, and then just enough bitterness and astringency to keep it from being heavy and give it a clean finish.

Flavors: Apple, Astringent, Bitter, Crisp, Freshly Cut Grass, Fruity, Grassy, Salad Greens, Smooth, Spinach, Squash, Starfruit, Sweet, Umami, Vegetal

Preparation

160 °F / 71 °C 1 min, 0 sec 5 g 6 OZ / 180 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- December sipdowns: 1
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 157

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing