Opening the packet reveals a dark brown leaf that is loosely broken and bares a super strong pine smoke scent. Like a smack in the face sort of smokiness. Perhaps on par with Lapsang Souchong.
Steeping Parameters: 5g leaf, 90C water, 200ml
4 minutes
The resulting tea is dark brown/black in colour and bares a smoky pine wood scent similar to it’s raw scent.
Flavour is wooden and dry with strong a strong smokiness that quickly dissipates. It’s only medium strength considering it’s strong scent, perhaps a longer steeping time would change that.
The smoke has a clinical taste which I believe must be the pine. There is some astringency but it’s easy to drink. The smokiness lingers in the after taste but not as much as the dryness.
Overall: It was a pleasant enough smoked black tea, though it has to be said the smoke was perhaps a little too strong for my usual taste. The clinical almost medicinal taste was unusual but interesting. Again I would have to be in the mood to drink this tea.
https://kittylovestea.com/2018/01/25/fukubukuro-2018-with-yunomi/
We love Lapsong Souchong in this house, but I don’t think I have run into a smoked Japanese tea!
In some ways this was like a strong version of Lapsang Souchong, except with a dominant pine note. It was a bit too over powering for me. It was interesting though!