I went to OTC yesterday after working to get some herbal blends for my wife. I stumbled upon their new teas and grabbed a couple for myself, too. The owner and I talked about the new green teas that they have in stock. Despite my emphasis on avoiding green teas, they suggested that this was superior to the rest. I couldn’t be convinced to spend $35/ 1oz. He openly offered me a 6g sample and requested that I email my review of the tea. He was curious to what a non-green tea fan thought of it.
Notes:
I asked a IG friend’s advice on brewing Gyokuro. They sent me a link to Mei Leaf’s ‘Umami’ brewing method.
First infusion: room temperature for 15 minutes. Strong notes of shiitake mushrooms, buttered almonds, cooked spinach, and seaweed.
Second infusion (160 F, 2.5 minutes): Rice cakes, seaweed, and strong umami notes.
Third infusion (160 F, 3.5 minutes): Less of the second, but still remained the same.
The fourth infusion was a bust, but I was feeling energized and motivated to get some house work done. I was told that Gyokuro was a great tea to eat. After hesitating for a minute, I threw the used leaves on a plate, added a touch of sesame oil, and chia seeds. Yum! More energy, but quite a treat for sure…
Mei Leaf Method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=F_QY9Ben4Hg&feature=emb_title
Flavors: Almond, Butter, Mushrooms, Rice, Seaweed, Spinach
Wow! I have never heard of this method! There is always something new to learn about tea.
It produced one of the best green tea sessions of my life (as far as green teas go)!
I agree-tea always provides new experiences. :)