Hosen

Un thé de qualité et très abordable. Parfais pour ceux qui veulent s’initier à la saveur umani et au thé japonais

dry leafs smells very powerful of marine notes like seaweed, mussels, seafoam, also salty olives and wet freshly cut grass. when brewed the salty olives and seaweed persist on the nose, the taste is very full bodied with a heavy dose of umami bringing it almost in Gyukuro territory. Very grassy , and there is asparagus and raw cabbage as well. It is very sensitive to temperature and steeping time, and dosage, every time i brew it comes out a bit differently. Now it has been open for four weeks and i definately note that flavor is more muted than the first times i brewed it which is a shame. Very nice allround Sencha on the full-bodied side but use if up within the first 3 weeks if possible

Sencha Hosen: by ippodo tea.

So I had this tea laying around for a few months. So I guess I never reviewed it lol. Here you go.

Review:

Ru Yao dragon teapot gongfucha.

Dry leaf: green, grass.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwsakLgZ8l/

Wet leaf: sweet grass, freshly cut grass, sweet, veggies, seafood (?).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwsdCIgdsC/

Light steep; I taste/smell: light —> asparagus, sweet grass, veggies,
Peaches (?), Medium -→ bitterness (somewhat pleasant), freshly cut grass.
(Forgot photo: it was nothing much. Almost a lime green. )

Medium steep; I taste/smell: light peaches (?). medium —→ asparagus, sweet grass, veggies, bitterness (meh) freshly cut grass.

(•groans•… Must I do a heavy steep? This tea is stale and not too fresh. I blame myself for forgetting about it. But review I must. At least the flecks around the teapot look pretty. )
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwsggqgqMm/

Heavy steep; I taste/smell; light —→ peaches (?), asparagus, sweet grass, freshly cut grass. Medium to strong bitterness. (This steep did not turn out nearly as bad as I thought it would)

All in all a nice tea even though it’s kind of stale and not too fresh. (I still blame myself for not reviewing it sooner) ok flavours and aromas. Weird cha qi. I rate a 75. only because it was yummy when it was fresh. Otherwise, I would rate a 50.

I’m not sure if I ordered this or if it was a gift from Paola Mannaro.

Bonus photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwsjhzARUS/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMwsl4MgNAb/

Ippodo tea indicates that Sencha should be steeped for 60 seconds at 176 F (80 C). Suggested ration of tea to water is 2 Tbsp (yes, Tbsp!) to 7 ounces (210ml) of water. To cool water to the proper temperature, Ippodo suggests transferring the water once by first pouring into a cup and then the tea pot. A second and third pot can also be brewed at 176 F (80 C) water with no steeping time.

I had a WONDERFUL cup of cold-brewed Hosen at the Ippodo shop in Kyoto. I think that this was the first time I understood the meaning of “umami” – it was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Any Japanese green tea can be cold-brewed by steeping 2 Tbsp in 7 ounces of chilled water for 15 minutes. A second and third pot can be prepared by brewing the second pot for 7 minutes and the third for 3 minutes.

Its aroma has most of the good things about a Sencha’s aroma. While its taste is powerful,. hinting at Umami flavors, but very plesant.