Naturally Grown Kabusecha by Farmer Shinichi Kihara

So, second steep, a mere 10 seconds. See, I knew my tastebuds would start to change their ideas pretty quick – (I wish they’d do that with olives, I really would like to like olives…).

The smell is still not really my, erm, cup of tea, but the taste is really growing on me. All the positive things you would expect from something that still does remind me an awful lot of spinach. A zinc tang, an earthiness. And it’s really green.

Not my favourite yet, but I did rather enjoy that.

Sipdown 39 – 2024

Finished this at work a couple days ago and truly cannot remember a thing about it.

I would call this tea farmer’s Kabusecha. The leaves are dark green, larger than conventional versions, and not very uniform. It’s closer to a gyokuro than a sencha. The steeped leaf is darker and has a oceanic fragrance. On the 1st steep, my initial reaction is: “these guys got it right.” Very delicate, light, uplifting, and buttery in texture. I’m getting some vegetal notes described in the previous tasting note, but coupled with clear hints of nori (roasted seaweed). One the 2nd steep, nori notes are more pronounced and complex, and the overall flavor is deeper and more savory. The 3rd steep is rich with savory notes of nori and asparagus, with an added mineral quality to it. Very interesting and unique tea.

The dry tea leaves are rich dark green, needle shaped and have a heavy grassy smell with a pleasant sweetness for me.
The Liquor varies depending the infusion between dark golden toned and greeny yellow and is a little cloudy.
This Kabusecha has a balanced flavor of vegetal and grassy flavors, which is accompanied all the while by a sweetness.
4-5 Infusions were possible
Steeping time between 30 sec and 2 min

Sipdown! (141)

Damn it, the number keeps going up! :P I suppose that’s what I get for going on hiatus when I still have a couple of orders on the way. Thankfully, I only have one more incoming, but it’s going to be +8 to my cupboard. Waaaaah…

I have really grown rather attached to this tea. I find that a moment comes fairly often when, either because of an overfull tummy or too much indulging, I want a nice fresh green tea. And this one does the trick! It’s mild, it’s sweet, and it has that lovely classic spinachy vegetal flavor. I will definitely be considering this for purchase once I’ve whittled my cupboard down. :)