Green Tea Forum

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 904 Location: Japan

What I mainly disagreed with was the, "this is how it's done in Japan" comment. Some people may do it that way in Japan (and other places) but it's not the default method everyone is using over here. I had tea with Mr. Tsuen and he was using about 5 grams.

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 112

Like I said on the other forum, I had 10g. of sencha for 120mL in Kyoto and that shop has been there for a long time and most definitely knows more about tea than I do. It was good but I like things a little less intense. I also had some fukamushi made for me with about one teaspoon in a probably 10-12 ounce kyusu and it was good too. There is no magical brewing parameters that only old people in Japan know about that makes the perfect tea every time. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Greenisgood, where did you have the fuka made for you? At a tea shop?

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 904 Location: Japan

Let's see, that would be 2.5 grams per ounce - mega strong. I could see that with gyokuro, but for sencha - that's a lot!

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 194

I think the main thing with gyokuro that you can concentrate your brew with a good quality gyokuro almost to the infinite and it is still good, the only thing you must care about not to use less than recomended, but with sencha one must find a careful balance of tea to water, more leaf grants more taste but more astringency too, and if you use too much amount of leaf the astringency might mask the more delicate aromas.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I tried Kirameki this morning at 4 grams per 5 ounces at 1:15 plus pour. Temperature around 165F. This was my best session to date. I'd even be willing to go 5:5 though I never go beyond that with sencha - because I don't think there would be upside beyond that.

I try to judge every sencha uniquely, as they all have unique qualities and seem to demand their own parameters. This one seems to perform well with higher leaf to water ratio, I have found. But, not all sencha's do for my palate.

brianlavelle · Posted: May 10, 2008 1:14 am Post subject:

Ryan, I've just tried your parameters with the Kirameki and a beautiful session was had!

I think slightly a greater weight of leaf than I'd used previously (i.e. I used more like your 4 grams to 5 ounces of water this time) makes things even better. The lightness remains but there is more punch, if that makes any sense!

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Glad to hear it Brian. The Kirameki is really an amazing tea. Everything about it screams elegance. From the aromatics, to the unique color of the liquor, all the way to its refined taste. Tsuen did us all justice in this one.

Yeah, I generally experiment when it comes to sencha leaf. Sometimes less tea is best for a particular sencha. And, sometimes more. Sometimes less steeping time is best, and sometimes more steeping time. It just all depends.

Experimentation is always a good thing.

For subsequent steepings I did: 2nd steep 30 seconds at 175 - 180 F. 3rd steep at 60 seconds at around 180 F. Last steep at around 195 F for 120 seconds.

Your description makes perfect sense.

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 112

The fuka was at a tea shop but just an ordinary one that mostly sold matcha food and stuff. It was good tea though, I bought 50g. and have yet to open it.

And yeah it was mega-strong sencha. They told me to brew it for a minute for the first steep and then pour it off instantly for every other steeping. I got 6 steeps and it was still kickin' when I had to leave, and I usually do no more than 3. It seemed like I had a lot of tea there (free samples and stuff) that was really strong like that but didn't have oversteeped bitterness that I sometimes associate with using too much tea. I had a karigane sample in Uji that knocked my socks off, and the taste stayed on my tongue for like a half hour.

brianlavelle · Posted: May 10, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

Well, I'm glad I succumbed and ordered the Fukamushi Sencha Supreme, which I've sampled this morning. It's very nice indeed and quite a surprising brew, to me anyway. Intensely vegetal and striking, with little of the sweetness in taste I've experienced in other senchas.

For more, see yet another rambling review on my blog here. Just ignore the cat stuff...

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 112

Has anyone gotten their Yutaka Midori yet?

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 904 Location: Japan

I've been hearing reports from customers that the Yutaka Midori has shown up in their mailboxes...

syntheticpanda · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 198

I have the Yukata Midori, and I'll be trying it either today or tomorrow. If it's anywhere near as good as last year's, I can't wait!

Chip · Posted: May 12, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

I had been struggling with Hatsumi so far. 5th session today finally made me smile. I am treating it lighter than most shincha. 4 grams per 180ml, 160*, 75 sec. Second steep is shorter, 10-15 sec with 175* water.

This is less leaf, lower temp, and shorter steep.

The first steep was quite good. The second was exceptional. The first 2 steeps were previously not to my liking.