Around Christmas, my sister gave me an old sample of Sejak tea from Upton that she had never opened, and it quickly became one of my favorite green teas. Since it is not currently available from Upton, I decided to try Harney’s Jeju Sejak as a replacement. I saved a couple of tsp of the Upton Sejak so I could compare, and this morning I made the two side-by-side.
Initial thoughts: The leaves look very similar, though the Upton leaves were slightly darker, less green, and more broken. This could all be because the sample was 5 years old, of course, but it was still interesting to note. The flavor profile was also similar – mild, not overly astringent, with a slight sweetness. Again, probably due to age, the Harney Sejak had a stronger, more assertive flavor. It was far sweeter, almost a sweet corn aroma going on. I liked it, though to be honest I think I enjoyed the flavor of the Upton Sejak better. I enjoyed its milder flavor. I think I can grow to like this one just as well, but my initial thought was that it was just a tiny bit too sweet-smelling for a green tea.
