No. 328 Yuzu Midori

Good morning :)

A combination of dewy, silky matcha, grassy kukicha and subtle piney-citrusy yuzu peel. Roasted nut nose. Brisk, mineral and tingly mouthfeel. Hints of butter and vegetables. Sweet feeling in the throat. Paper & Tea says invigorating — that’s a good description. Yuzu is gone with the second steep and it’s somewhat drying. Edit: Yuzu came out after cooling. Future cups will probably consist of one 3-minute steep at a lower temp.

Simple and satisfying, this will be a good morning bracer during this week’s heatwave. Thanks, Martin :) Anything yuzu is welcome in my house!

personal crap below

You know, I want to bring up something I heard yesterday that left a feeling I can’t shake. I was picking up my bicycle from the mechanic downtown after having several parts replaced. A customer in front of me started berating the shop owner (sole employee who puts his blood, sweat and tears into this business) about a perceived lack of communication and how everybody has been trying to sleight him since Covid began. He kept escalating the situation in front of the owner’s young son. Then this came out of the customer’s mouth: “You know it’s really difficult as a consumer (true emphasis here) to know where to put my money these days.” I thought, damn, his identity is wrapped up in consuming. I mean, I know everybody has been stressed, tensions are high. But the impression is sticking around. And then to hear the CFO of Bed Bath & Beyond jumped to his death in NYC the other day from 18 stories…

I can’t put into words what this makes me feel. I wish you all inner peace. Have some tea. Reflect on who you are and what you want to bring to this world in your relatively short time here.

I have tried this again (first attempt wasn’t good) with a shake of the bag beforehand. I also used a bit of colder water, I haven’t measured it but I think it was closer to recommended 70°. It is indeed temperature sensitive tea, which makes sense as there is matcha and kukicha. I prepared it in western style, however with a strainer for herbals or oolongs, as matcha just went through.

Also, it needs indeed short steeping. I did around 1 minute, maybe 75 seconds; and it was just right. Do not expect yuzu going strong, it is… but in aroma of the dry tea. Brewed, it isn’t much strong, however it’s fine level for me. It was somehow citrusy, a little bitter, a little pine-y, so I assume it is yuzu profile. I never had it (only once as a Berliner weisse beer), never on its own.
The base tea plays major role here. It is smooth, grassy, tea with little bit of vegetal and buttery notes. Very rich and bold taste. Perfect for, a kind of hot, morning. A caffeine booster.

Used one very heaped teaspoon.