I was so busy trying to make sure that I got through the bigger packages of green teas I had open that I haven’t had a chance to try some of the Yunomi samples I got. Went for this one since it calls for 240 ml of water, so I’d be able to sip it for a while.
The dry leaves are a blend of dark leafy matter, light colored stems and dust, with some brown bits here and there. It floats atop the water while steeping and puts up a fight as I try to strain it. Until now, I’ve been preparing my Japanese greens in a gaiwan and using the lid to strain, but this yields too large an amount for that and it quickly clogged up my strainer.
The resulting liquor is a light, cloudy yellow green that has a very light taste. It’s very smooth with a bit of a creamy texture and a beany, vegetal taste similar to edamame, and the faintest hint of chestnut in there and some umami trying to push through. The fact that this is aracha becomes increasingly apparent the longer I drink, as the flavor profile is less defined and bold than what one would experience in a fully processed tea.
I think that is what ends up making aracha unique. Since the leaves don’t go through sorting and further processing, there is less input from the human element to guide the experience of the drinker at the other end of the process. The end result is an affordable easy drinker that can be enjoyed by anyone who can appreciate its subtle complexities.
I see that someone has actually prepped this gongfu style, so perhaps I’ll try that with what remains of my sample.
Flavors: Beany, Chestnut, Creamy, Umami, Vegetal
