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drank Japan Benifuuki Black Tea by What-Cha
1605 tasting notes

I’ve had my fill of Wuyi black teas the past few weeks. The cool, rainy weather has me wanting to sip down my few Japanese teas.

Like Togo, no expectations here.

So what am I greeted with? A massive lilac and sweet pea bouquet, reminiscent of green baozhong oolong, but mixed with deep Assam malt. Intriguing! I notice nobody else has yet mentioned the florality of this tea. The medium body at first hits with a pungent tanginess and tannins then carries into mid-mouth flavors of iodine, wet dark wood, oak, buttery roasted nuts and a drop of dark dry red wine. The swallow presents with lilac mixed with a spicy feel and the umami of buttered popcorn. The lilac lingers for several minutes.

I prepared this 2019 harvest western style according to What-Cha’s parameters. The leaf is chopped and mixed with short lengths of stem. The large surface area created a very strong brew with a 3 minute steep. Second steep is mellower. I’m curious what less time would do, but I really love where this session sits. What a unique black tea. Thank you so much for sharing, Martin :)

Song pairing: Failure — The Nurse Who Loved Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVg9GcUDArQ

Flavors: Butter, Dark Bittersweet, Dark Wood, Floral, Flowers, Iodine, Malt, Oak, Popcorn, Red Wine, Roasted Nuts, Spicy, Tangy, Tannin, Umami, Wet wood

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML
2 comments
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Martin Bednář
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I am happy that you liked it! I can’t now listen to song pairing, but I will do it as well.

I haven’t noticed florality, but everybody have senses bit different, so maybe I just call it otherway? Just enjoy it :)

Martin Bednář
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I just listened to that song and I like it!
It’s not exactly my style; but whatever. Thanks derk!

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Comments

Martin Bednář
Delete

I am happy that you liked it! I can’t now listen to song pairing, but I will do it as well.

I haven’t noticed florality, but everybody have senses bit different, so maybe I just call it otherway? Just enjoy it :)

Martin Bednář
Delete

I just listened to that song and I like it!
It’s not exactly my style; but whatever. Thanks derk!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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