Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Question here for PigHog, I sampled Den's Genmaicha and I suspect that it is a little unorthodox. Maybe I'm wrong. Den's says that they use first and second flush tea to make theirs and they add a bit of "high quality" matcha. The flavor was far more elegant than Ippodo. Very sweet, vegetal, and a real nuttiness to it. Ippodo's version is much more sencha-like. There is a greater level of astringency, less sweet, and more seaweed flavor. I can see why the two vary but what is more typical or traditional? Or is the style of Genmaicha a little more "anything goes" and thus more open to interpretation?

Traditionally genmaicha is a low grade tea made with bancha. I suspect that what we have from Ippodo is more or less standard.

How you describe the Den's genmaicha sounds more like what I'm used to buying from yuuki-cha and I think that this slightly higher quality sencha-based genmaicha is much nicer. At the end of the day, there'll be low and high quality variations of any tea.

For the record, it sounds like you have matcha-iri (抹茶入り) genmaicha. Which is a nice variation dusted with matcha.

The more I drink ippodo's genmaicha, the less impressed I am. I want to try some matcha from hibiki-an next time, do I might order their genmaicha too, to get free shipping...

Originally Posted by PigHog

Traditionally genmaicha is a low grade tea made with bancha. I suspect that what we have from Ippodo is more or less standard.

How you describe the Den's genmaicha sounds more like what I'm used to buying from yuuki-cha and I think that this slightly higher quality sencha-based genmaicha is much nicer. At the end of the day, there'll be low and high quality variations of any tea.

For the record, it sounds like you have matcha-iri (抹茶入り) genmaicha. Which is a nice variation dusted with matcha.

The more I drink ippodo's genmaicha, the less impressed I am. I want to try some matcha from hibiki-an next time, do I might order their genmaicha too, to get free shipping...

I really enjoyed the one from Den's and felt that I'd order more. It was only an 8g sample. The next comparison will be the Senchas. If Den's Sencha is as good or better than Ippodo, that will settle things. There's a premium paid for international shipping. I'll pay it if its worth it...but ONLY if its worth it. Maybe I'll compare the Senchas this afternoon.

Yeah, let me know what you think.

The Den's Sencha is again less astringent and sweeter. While this particular sample has less body and umami than the Ippodo, it is also a mid-grade tea from Den's (at least as far as price goes). I still have a bit of Ippodo Sencha to use up. But I think I'll at least try Den's next time around. I wish I had a little more to get to know it a little better but the samples are enough to get an idea. Again, this was a 7g sample so there's not a lot of chances to make adjustments. The main observation is that its a bit sweeter with less astringency.

Sounds nice! I'm on the oolong tonight. Trying to finish it off as its been open a while. Will probably open the gyokuro rimpo tomorrow, perhaps. I have too much choice! Maybe I'll check their best before dates...

I have been enjoying smokey teas this week: Lapsang Suchong and Tolstoy's Samovar. The Tolstoy's is a blend of green and black teas with Lapsang Suchong making up a good percentage. I have been trying to get at least three steepings out of my leaves to make it last.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I have been enjoying smokey teas this week: Lapsang Suchong and Tolstoy's Samovar. The Tolstoy's is a blend of green and black teas with Lapsang Suchong making up a good percentage. I have been trying to get at least three steepings out of my leaves to make it last.

I was worried that PigHog Nightblade and I were the only ones left. As soon as my tea from China comes in, we'll compare motes on the Lapsang.

I've been drinking mostly yuzu sencha or silver needle lately. I have some decent pu erh mini-cakes that I've been considering for a while but haven't been in the mood for something that strong.

Originally Posted by gugi

I've been drinking mostly yuzu sencha or silver needle lately. I have some decent pu erh mini-cakes that I've been considering for a while but haven't been in the mood for something that strong.

Pu ehr is great that way. Unlike Sencha tha looses ts flavor and aroma in weeks, Pu ehr sustains. It's patient.