20 Tasting Notes
Still struggling to “understand” Gyokuro tea. In general, they taste to me like a very umami-rich green tea, almost in the direction of being like a lightly savory green-tea soup.
This one is interesting – IMO, it’s a bit of an acquired taste (for context, I live in the USA and not Japan), but fairly intriguing. Very tricky to serve to guests, since once again, it’s somewhat of an acquired taste and you have to be open-minded and willing to try a somewhat unique/different tea.
For a first time taste, I’d recommend either going to the Ippodo Tea locations in Kyoto (excellent), Tokyo (also quite good), or New York City (never been) to get a freshly brewed cup by the staff, or try brewing it yourself cold brew. Brewing it hot is quite nice, but I’ve found that I enjoy it cold better. (Cold tastes kind of like a green tea flavored very light gazpacho?)
Almost a perfect green tea for me. Much lighter on the roasted-rice flavor, but mixed-in very tastefully w/ the green tea. They claim they use “higher-grade” green tea leaves and it’s definitely noticeable.
Great as both a daily drinker and whenever you want to be instantly transported back to being in Japan!
Definitely a fun tea to try, but I won’t be putting it on my permanent rotation. Lovely sweet smelling tea, but the taste was too one-track for me (for context, I usually drink Taiwanese Oolongs or Japanese greens).
IMO, great for impressing the occasional guest, but has too much of an overpowering sweetness to be my daily drinker. (but maybe yours!)
The tea itself is a nice Earl Grey – I’d rate it a little over 80.
However, it didn’t feel “low caffeine” enough to me. Drank a cup and was noticeably more awake. Couldn’t even finish the rest of the teapot.
I’ve since switched over to Lupcia’s Rooibos Earl Grey (9220), which is markedly different (rooibos base vs. black tea base), but definitely has no caffeine while retaining that lovely Earl Grey bergamont scent/flavor.
