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My first experience with this tea was probably 7 years ago, by now. At the time, I was working at a local gift store, and they would often hire international students to practice their English. We often had Japanese students as that was one of the colleges the shop partnered with, and plus, we get tons of Japanese tourists. So win win for all. Anyways, the first of these students I worked with, right when I started, was a sweet girl named Yuka. We only worked a short time together, but when she left, she gave me a mini tin of this tea. And while I was a tea fan way back then, and before that, brewing green tea at home was never my strong suit. I was fortunate to have some green teas that were very forgiving, though genmai cha was a favourite, and I drank that the most (and it was fairly forgiving). When I made this tea, I wanted to love it. I wanted to enjoy it, but I didn’t. I can’t remember truly what I disliked about this tea back then, but it was probably that it was bitter, and thus (retrospectively) user error. I seem to think that the cherry flavour was not that prominent either. Whatever it was, it kept me away from buying it for a LONG time. Til today, in fact. I was talking with one of the girls at the shop and she did confirm that it can be a finicky tea, and overbrew very easily. She suggested no more than 2 minutes to steep. I smelled it in the tin, that was filled to the brim. Ahhh, sooo good! I just had to try it again, and hope that with my gained skills and experience over the years, but more importantly, my variable temp kettle and kitchen timer, would give me success this time.

So, I decided to make this (from the 5 new green teas I got today) when I got home. I chose this one because I had my first wheatgrass shot, and anticipated it being awful (it was) I had a chaser prepared. My chaser was pomegranate juice. Then this tea. I set the temp on my kettle to 180F (it only measures in F) though it might have cooled off a little more as it took a few minutes before I actually poured the water into my mug and infuser. I let it steep for 2 minutes, and added a little bit of organic cane sugar. Oh sweet cherry! Though the sourness is just at the back of my throat after I sip. I found it got fruitier after it cooled a little more. This one seems like it will cold brew well. Looking forward to warmer weather to do that.

So, I am very glad I decided to try this one again. I am sure I will enjoy the rest of my mini tin…though I know a few people who will likely be getting some in their next tea box from me. :)