Teaflection

(See also http://steepster.com/teas/coffeeam/18137-gyokuro-asahi?post=75734)
I finally finished this one up, and I finally realized something unique, possibly strange, about it. It is astringent! Now, I’ve read (and it’s usually matched my limited experience) that because gyokuro is shaded, it’s usually not astringent. However, the astringency of this gyokuro is not unpleasant, just not what I expected.

However, this tea does have a very nice sweetness in the throat that becomes much more pronounced once your mouth is empty. It remains a couple minutes even after the cup is finished. That is the nicest thing about this tea, since I don’t think the flavors were well-balanced, nor was it smooth or deliciously sweet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty good tea actually, but I’d say this is middle-end for quality.

(See also: http://steepster.com/Shinobicha/posts/74607)
Geoff sent me a large amount of this back in March (something like 3-4oz!).
Thanks!

While I wouldn’t have even thought to look at a company called “CoffeeAM” for green tea, much less hand-picked Gyokuro, this stuff is pretty good!

The wet leaf has a very nice aroma, and when brewed cold reminded me a little of a green, fruit-like Tie Gwan Yin. Of course the typical strong sweetness, followed by a little umami is present, but it isn’t really vegetal or bitter at all. Intense, sweet, and hints of fruit are what this gives.

Not one I would have sought out, but I’m glad to have it. I have yet to try their recommendation of just 100 degrees for 3 minutes, but I will have to test it out.

This is a very good – if very picky – green tea. By picky, I mean it requires a specific brewing time and temp to be very good. Some of that can be palate-specific and subjective. Brewed at the time and temp suggested on the Teaflection site lends a very chestnutty and vegetal brew. I softened it a bit, but liked it both ways.

Full Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2010/12/13/review-teaflection-gyokuro-asahi-rare-green-tea/

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6tsp
Water:1000ml 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: It smells like seaweed and rice sushi. The tea looks like dark toasted rice cereal with some green tea and popcorn tossed in.
MilitiaJim: The better bits of noori
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: brown rice
MilitiaJim: white rice, the sticky sushi kind
Flavor:
AmazonV: toasted brown rice hints of vegetal green tea, a pleasant seaweed flavor
MilitiaJim: It’s like drinking sushi!
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasty
Liquor: translucent yellow-green, like mountain dew

Resteep: 1000ml, 175, 4min
MilitiaJim found it weak, I found it fine, a little mellower, sweeter, and smoother.

We drained 2000ml very fast, I think we like it!

In fact we made a second and third fresh pot of tea, and they were both gone in short order. We love this tea.

I was surprised at the shipping packaging – there was an invoice and a wad of paper, but not enough to keep the tea from shifting around in the larger shipping box. The tea was undamaged by this and I wonder if the lack of padding was due to the tea choice.

Included in my package was a small tea ball, I really have enough odd tea making gadgets and was surprised by the inclusion until i went back and looked at the company website again. I will be giving this away to anyone in need of a tea ball.

I was amused by the custom packaging, it has my name on it! This made me feel special, and is defiantly a way to be memorable to your customers.

I received this tea for free for the purpose of reviewing the tea and posting my thoughts of it on my blog. I made sure to try it on multiple days, in between other teas, to make sure my thoughts on the tea were consistent.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/teaflection-loose-leaf-green-tea.html