American Tea Room
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See All 155 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
This was the last of the sample. I could see this becoming a semi-regular tea for me.
Not only is it one of the more reasonably priced senchas of this company, but it’s mild (yet not weak) and flavorful.
It does well at different temps, is easy to brew, and would be a very good introduction (in my opinion) to Japanese greens. Thumbs up.
EDIT
Interesting!! I just found a huge connection between ATR teas and Ito-En teas!
Looks like if you’re interested in Japanese greens from ATR, Ito-en carries the same ones far cheaper! (This seems like more than coincidence… I would guess Ito-en is their supplier)
Check this out:
1) ATR’s “River of Heaven” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/river-of-heaven-tea.html
And Ito-en’s “Ama-no-gawa” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=7&id=267
2) ATR’s “Kabusecha Plum” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/kabusecha-plum-tea.html
and Ito-en’s “Gion” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=7&id=273
3) ATR’s “Lavender Sencha” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/lavender-sencha-tea.html
and Ito-en’s “Lavender Sencha” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=7&id=65
4) ATR’s “Yame Gyokuro” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/yame-gyokuro-tea.html
and Ito-en’s “Yame Gyokuro” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=3&id=12 (Ito-en is $50 cheaper for 2oz!!)
5) ATR’s “Honyama Sencha” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/honyama-sencha-tea.html
and Ito-en’s “Honyama Sencha” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=3&id=4 (Ito-en is $25 cheaper for 3 oz!!)
6) ATR’s “Earl Grey Sencha” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/earl-grey-sencha-tea.html
and Ito-en’s “Early Grey Sencha” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=7&id=66
(The descriptions are almost the same!)
7) ATR’s “Vanilla Hojicha” http://www.lepalaisgourmet.com/vanilla-hojicha-green-japanese-tea.html and Ito-en’s “Vanilla Hojicha” http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=product&catID=7&id=67
(Their Genmaicha and Genmaimatcha’s also look the same)
Preparation
Their suggested parameters (170 for 1 minute) make for good flavors, but a very weak infusion. So was the 1st infusion.
On the 2nd, I wanted to see if I could bring the flavors out more strongly…
I did 190 for the same amount of time (1 minute)… I knew there was a chance it would be bitter, but thought it worth the chance…..
It was fairly awesome! Slightly bitter/sweet, like a sencha but without the vegetal qualities (which, I normally enjoy, but it was fun to have one that tastes more grainy, or like corn or barley tea). Definitely try this at higher temps, as it is really good!
I really liked this tea, but I’m not sure what to rate it yet. I’m going to have to have a few more cups.
I did taste the ‘maize’ flavor they describe, and there was another, very strong flavor present but I couldn’t put my finger on it…yet. I couldn’t taste that this was extraordinarily different than other senchas (with the ‘wood roasted’ finish they say makes it unique), but perhaps that will come out later.
Overall, it was a pleasant, comforting, yummy cup.
Preparation
I received a one-shot sample of this from a Twitter friends. I was very curious about it after a couple of false alarms on my Milk Oolong search. Sure, the others had some detectable creaminess to them but nothing awe-inspiring. This smelled like buttered popcorn right from the get-go on dry leaf alone. After the brew-up, that feeling still stayed. I wouldn’t have thought that I’d like a “butter” taste to my tea (aside from a slight buttery-floral note), but I was wrong. I welcomed the cornucopia of creaminess. A surprisingly and superior cup.
Full Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2010/11/21/review-american-tea-room-milk-oolong-2/
Preparation
I got a one-shot of this (again) from a Twitter friend, and this time…did it up as it should be done. As a latte. You won’t find a more healthy hot cocoa substitute anywhere. Well, unless you add vanilla syrup to the latte, which I did. Who cares? Lattes are guilty pleasures…the healthy base just makes it – uh – less guilty.
Full Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2010/07/29/review-american-tea-room-choco-late-8/
Preparation
The idea of this tea is really brilliant, and it seems like it would be a great evening tea, as its little or no caffeine.
However, the execution wasn’t exactly as I’d hoped. The vanilla smell is present in the leaf, but not quite as strongly as I expected. Then, in the cup, there is a creaminess, and perhaps a little vanilla present, but again, not enough. The houjicha is of course delicious.
This tea is good, but it would be even better if the blend was more balanced (a good mix of both vanilla and roasted leaf).
This was a great Milk Oolong to experience as my first milk oolong. The leaves are so dark and tightly rolled, the aroma is very sweet and creamy. The leaves brewed up a nice pale yellow with an exquisite taste. I love how creamy this is. I didn’t think I enjoyed it much at first, but then the sweet, almost peachy taste hits my tongue and I NEED more. This was a great way to start my day this morning.
I enjoyed the rich sweetness of the first steep more than the milky creamy second steep. Thank you LauraR for the opportunity to try this tea! I can see it becoming a favorite!
Very nice, very smooth. I agree that it could probably go longer than 2 minutes, but I’d also advise paying attention and not oversteeping. Temperamental? Yes, but worth it.
I have a sample of this; I chose it because, as others have described, it LOOKS like an oolong (very long, twisted leaves), and a black tea/oolong hybrid sounded interesting and different.
I’ve had it 3 times now, the first 2 I took their suggestions for 2 minutes at nearly boiling. It tasted like a black tea with a hint of cinnamon. It was good, but I didn’t know why it didn’t seem anything like an oolong, and so I didn’t think it was very remarkable. But I didn’t want to just give up on it, so I tried it for 3 minutes today…
It was much better! I was getting all kinds of fruity oolong flavors on top of a high quality black base. I knew it wasn’t possible for it to be made in Taiwan and look like an oolong and yet not taste like one!
So if you give this one a shot, steep for at least 3 minutes.
Preparation
If you are a fan of real dark chocolate, 71% and up, this is the tea for you. I always buy myself a 71% Valrhona chocolate to nibble on, and this tea is exactly that. Deep, robust…wait…is this coffee? When it cooled down, I liked it even more. I have a teaspoon left, I am brewing this in my milk next time. This is an okay chocolate tea, but I prefer Numi’s Chocolate tea. I’m still on the outlook for the best chocolate tea! Thank you Doulton for a sample! :)
Preparation
I got this as a sample and I really liked it. Smooth black tea and yummy apricots. Much more appealing somehow than other apricot teas I have tried. I am actually not much on fruit flavorings (haven’t really gotten in to Earl Grey) but this is delicious. Will order.
Brioche’s astoundingly decadent aroma and flavor make it one tea that has dry leaves that perfectly capture the spicy-sweet aroma of a Parisian patisserie with intoxicating, beguiling, tempting aromas of nuts, spices and an unrivaled baked sweet note.
This made a nice breakfast cup of tea, however, I think this is a tea I could cuddle up with in the evening during my “Me Time” and tea.
Preparation
What a find!!! I was attending the opening night of Food and Wine – Taste of Beverly Hills and what did I find under one of the big tops – nothing less than the best tea I have every tasted. I must say that I am fan of anything that reminds me of dessert without all the guilt. American Tea Room had a exceptional booth that smelled like chocolate, at first I though it was coming from the cookie vendor next to them but I was soon corrected. The booth was so crowded with people trying to get a taste and it was worth the wait……. I final got my sample cup of Choco*late, which is what they were featuring at this event and it was out of this world. They were handing out samples, which I took of course and made it the next morning and it was even better.
I went to American Tea Room’s store on Friday and bought 2 bags ….. all I can say is that it tastes fantastic and it is fat free and no calories!
This is a new permanent addition to my tea closet!
Doesn’t surprise me at all. I suspect they also get some of their blends from SpecialTeas. Since I won’t ever shop with American Tea Room … this is really good information.
Exactly — I was a bit disappointed, because I was still curious to try some of their offerings, but I would never do business with them again. Now I’m happy to know I can find these teas elsewhere (and, at FAR cheaper). After all, it’s not the poor teas’ fault!
Wow, nice find.
It is also interesting how ATR also describes the tea as even more delicious than Ito-en does. I guess you have to give it some verbal “justice” to support such a price difference. This will hardly give them any more credits, especially after their somewhat suspicious ratings of their own tea and personal attacks.
Not that I use the ATR. Ito-en is, not surprisingly, everywhere here in Japan. I am not a big fan of their bottled sencha, but I do enjoy their bottled genmaicha. Only 105 yen!
Thank you for letting us know!
Have you tried any of their loose leaf green teas? I’m curious about a number of their senchas, which look like they are from all different regions and it would be interesting to compare and see if there are big differences…
I have yet to try their loose leaf tea, but I will keep an eye open for them next time I visit a tea vendor or a department store. ..Which reminds me of that I have not seen an Ito-en store here, just their bottles in stores and vending machines. Oh well, I will have a look for them anyway. :)