Hand Rolled Sencha {discontinued}

Thanks to ScottTeaMan for the remainder of this sample!

Okay, I am a little sencha shy, I’ve had the experience of a few that got kind of astringent and made my stomach hurt so I have the tendency to avoid them.

I wanted to be gentle with this so I only steeped it for around 45 seconds at 175 F. I got a very nice golden-yellow color, a bit thick, vegetal, brothy and clean tasting with a nice sweet aftertaste.

I did a second steep at around 160 F and that was also quite good! I like the fact that it is super flavorful but also mild in the finish. Not bitter at all – yay!

I enjoyed this one but since I’ve never seen a sencha quite this color before, if perhaps this tea is a little past its prime? How can you tell? Sorry, I know I should have tried it sooner!

I love Senchas and got a sample of this about a year ago (maybe longer). :p Last night I saw a capsule of events, that marked 2011 forever in my (our) minds. Perhaps the most memorable, albeit tragic, event in my mind is the earthquake & tsunami that devastated Japan. I can still see the giant wave destroying everything in its path!! To ring in the New Year, and in homage to the Japanese people, I will enjoy this tea tomorrow! Peace, health, and happiness to all of you in the year to come. :))

Just opened the sample bag today and this is my first tea of 2012! I need to drink more Japanese green teas this year. I didn’t realize how much I missed a good Sencha until I opened this Hand Rolled Sencha and was hit with that fresh vegetal aroma! The leaves are so small and aromatic, but the wet leaves smelled more vegetal and delicious. The wet leaves are also so tender. I’ve never done it, but I wouldn’t doubt they’re quite edible. :))

Then I poured the hot water, on the leaves I could smell this great Sencha aroma. Steeped at 1.5 minutes was perfect. The mediuum yellow cup looked very inviting. I always let the cup cool a while, because the flavors tend to intensify, as does the aroma. Swirling the warm tea in my mouth, I got fresh, clean, vegetative qualities, with a full mouth feel. There is a sweetness to the cup & a mild sencha bite. It is in no way overpowering or bitter, but it does make my mouth pucker a little. :)) I like the way the tea coats my tongue and my throat-such a smooth, warming quality that stayed with me.

This is a very good, fresh sencha. I will update with more infusions later!

Second infusion is better than the first with more of the same aromas, flavors, and qualities. The best cup of all infusions.

Third cup was still good in flavor, but the aromas were fading. Increasing water temperature and steep time another 30 seconds would have made a more enjoyable cup.

At boiling and 3.5 minutes the fourth cup possessed waning flavors and aromas. While still good, the qualities all around were on the weak side.

I typically only get 3 really good, quality infusions from a quality sencha. I missed having a good sencha around & this Hand Rolled Sencha was a perfect way to start the New Year!! :))

Cupped: Sunday/Monday, January 1-2, 2012.

Reviewed: Sunday/Monday, January 1-2, 2012.