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“It smells like houjicha. So I thought, well it must taste like it. No, it doesn’t. It isn’t the worst tea, but I couldn’t drink the rest of my cup. I went by brewing guidelines via Den’s Tea for...” Read full tasting note
“Wow I went gong fu this time and it really does improve this tea. Lots more woody body and strength (which is needed.)” Read full tasting note
“I got special mail! A beautiful “Morticia Adamsesque” card and tea from Gmathis! I have almost no knowledge at all of Japanese teas. I have tried a few Senchas, I have had genmaicha and probably...” Read full tasting note
“There…if this isn’t woody tea, I don’t know what is! Every time I make a cup, I’m surprised at how naturally sweet it is—just like the twigs had been dipped in brown sugar. Lovely.” Read full tasting note
Consisting primarily of leaf stems and fine tea twigs, this low-caffeine tea produces a mild, woody-malty brew. Unlike leaf teas, kukicha is best prepared by simmering for 10 minutes.
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It smells like houjicha. So I thought, well it must taste like it. No, it doesn’t. It isn’t the worst tea, but I couldn’t drink the rest of my cup. I went by brewing guidelines via Den’s Tea for kukicha. His instructions were brew for 30 seconds with boiling water with 2 rounded tsp for 8 oz. If this brewed longer, I don’t think I would like it. It’s roasted barley like and not tasty. I do like green kukicha, just not this stuff.
I got special mail! A beautiful “Morticia Adamsesque” card and tea from Gmathis!
I have almost no knowledge at all of Japanese teas. I have tried a few Senchas, I have had genmaicha and probably houjicha. I do like matcha, and I have had an unusual Japanese black tea from Postcard Teas. But compared to Chinese and Indian black tea, my experience is almost nil.
We had a chilly morning with heavy fog which is heading into a very warm day with a warm week ahead. Youngest is an incredible artist and sent me some photos she took this morning in the fog. Maybe I can upload and share them!
This is my little tea break in the big leather chair in front of the fireplace with the candle lanterns lit before I make lunch for me and Sam the King of Dogs. We will be splitting a bag of broccoli. We are simple folk. But not too simple. Mine will have hollandaise. His will not.
The recommendation was ten minutes of simmering, but I got preoccupied in the garden and let it boil briefly before turning it down. It doesn’t seem to have hurt it.
This reminds me a little of a roasted barley tea with a bare hint of…chicory? It is VERY woody but in a sawmill sort of way rather than a puerh, petrichor, and damp wood way. The depth of woody flavor makes me want to say smokey but it isn’t actually smokey when you get down to it. There is a hint of bitterness that is not at all astringent to me, but the aftertaste lingers and even tingles a little. That might be the Juicy Fruit gmathis mentioned. And if you swish air around in your mouth after you swallow, there is a hint of vanilla.
I like it! I am not a coffee drinker but I would almost call this “ coffee lite.” It lacks the bitterness of coffee but has such a solid feel. It feels like something I would drink when I am preparing to roll up my sleeves and get down to a task.
Thank you, gmathis for the tea and card, and by the way, the card goes beautifully with my anniversary card which is beside it on the mantel!
Aw that’s such a sweet Halloween tea friend gift! ❤ I was so confused at first about the boiling part, but then I looked it up and realized this is a roasted stem tea and not regular kukicha. That makes more sense, haha.
Your lunch notes made me laugh! Poor Sam (the King) doesn’t get any hollandaise?! ;)
Oh, what memories this brought back! My dearest friend in high school went on the become macrobiotic back in the era when no one was doing that. She and her husband went to Boston and lived in Michio Kushi’s home for a month to study the macrobiotic lifestyle with him. She introduced me to this tea along with other interesting things (for that time period), like burdock root and tea made from LOTS of freshly grated ginger to ward off illness. The seaweed used so much in macrobiotics never appealed but I still drink twig tea on occasion and have fond thoughts of my friend. Enjoy your brassica lunch! : )
Cameron B. – Sam MIGHT get the occasional bite with hollandaise but I try to keep him on a good, clean diet. He is very healthy and walks about two miles a day and plays with his girlfriend four or five days a week, although they must whine at the door because they know they get a treat when they come back in and they are very food motivated!
It was a lovely card and a fun new tea to try!
White Antlers: i am glad the tea brought memories of a good friend! Those are precious!
I am in full support of Sam’s healthy lifestyle! “Food motivated” is the understatement of the century for my two pugs, LOL.
Well, if I couldn’t be there to drink it with you, the review comes close.
(And if I say so myself, I loved that card. Wouldn’t let it go to just anybody ;)
