Sencha Sakura

Hi everyone! just thought I’d drop in to say that I’m drinking this right now. This is the first cup of tea that I’ve had in a WHILE. I mean, I’ve been drinking tea and such, but I haven’t been logging it. I’ve tried Samovar’s Lapsang and Golden Buds, a tea from Palais des The, and a few others that I just haven’t had the time to input into my logs.

Sorry that I’ve been so absent! I miss you all!

I don’t have much time, but this one is pretty much delicious in every way. Take the smooth, succulent grassy notes of a deep-steamed sencha, then add a candied, floral sweetness explosion at the end of every sip. Refreshing without tasting fake or false or cloying. There are actual sakura blossoms in here, which let me tell you, make this tea one of the most visually pretty I’ve seen in quite some time. Herbaceous, light, the literal translation of spring in a cup.

Heart you all!

I haven’t been drinking much sencha lately, I find that the strong vegetal flavor just doesn’t appeal to me as much as it once did, but I’ve had this package sitting around longer than it should have and decided to open it up today. With the subzero weather we’ve been having all month, I needed a reminder that spring is coming and delicate sakura blooms nestled among the sencha remind me very much of spring and the many days I’ve spent viewing the sakura blossoms with friends.

The flavor of this tea is quite different from any other sencha I’ve tried. There is the slightly astringent vegetal flavor that I expected from a good quality sencha, but hiding beneath that is the flavor of the sakura. It seems to come out more as the tea cools giving the tea a slightly sweet and floral flavor. I’m not sure I’ve had anything else that even remotely compares to the flavor I’m sensing, which makes it very difficult to describe. I can’t wait to try this as a an ice tea, I think it would be wonderful. I may try that later in the week since the weather will be up in the high 30s (not really iced tea weather, but the closest I’m going to get for a few more months.)

Rishi Tea just announced their arrival of this year’s Sakuracha!!!

I have been meaning to try this for ages now! I have tried the Sakura versions of other brands, and they have left me bitter (emotionally, not in flavour profile) due to the fact that they taint my delectable, pure Japanese teas with flavourings.

Rishi keeps it simple. Sakura blossoms and a high quality sencha. Beautiful! I completely love it!
In the past I have loathed sakurachas (probably due to how the artificial ingredients would bring back not-so-fond memories of cherry varieties of cough-syrup.)

The flavour is very difficult for me to describe because it is so unique. It is a very full, smooth Japanese tea. Very little astringency in comparison to others! Almost a creamy mouthfeel? Lovely. And beware, this tea must be FRESH, because it brews quickly! Lessen the recommended steeping time a bit.

Sorry I’ve been neglecting my Steepster account friends :) Work has taken over my life lately! But I’m going to make a comeback today ;) Hope everyone’s well!

Oh! And on Rishi’s site, they are selling a Sencha Sakura + Tsuki Teapot combo by the way! I didn’t need the Tsuki Teapot because I already own one, but for anyone looking for new teaware, I highly recommend it! My Tsuki Teapot is my favourite teapot that I own, and it’s not at all expensive. Perfect for Japanese greens!

I’m not going to rate this numerically yet because I need to tinker with temps and times, clearly.

So far I haven’t gotten it right. Because what I’m getting is truly not good. It’s so far been a rather unpleasant acrid green flavor. None of the rich green and sakura flavor I was getting from my other one… nor any of the lovely buttery mouthfeel… Just mediciney yuck.

It got better as went into the third steeping and dropped the temp down to 150F, so I’m hopeful that all I need to do is fiddle with this one a bit.

Every spring I try to order Sencha Sakura. This year i chose Rishi and I do not regret it: the sweetness of Sencha mixes well with the subtle floral notes. It also helps that I have a brand new tea corner :http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50313720811653877/

Cast iron tea pot from adagio teas. Cherry blossom branches from my local flower shop. Vase from IKEA. Vintage Japanese print book (Utamaro). Cup from http://www.teavana.com and large print from Lost Meridiem Productions https://www.etsy.com/listing/186864488/ready-to-hang-canvas-print-12-x-18-nyc?ref=shop_home_active_7

I had bought a sakura china set and needed a tea to go with it. I was happily surprised on how much I tasted the sakura blossoms and enjoying the crispness of the sencha. Really delicious.

I’ve tried a few sencha sakuras (this one, Den’s – quite awful version – and Mariage Freres) and this one is my favorite. The cherry blossom add an almost spice-like floral flavor, deep. The sencha itself looks to be fukamushi (darker green, more “broken” than an asamushi)
I hope they’ll have it in stock soon.

I’m nearing the end of this tin of tea, but thoroughly enjoying it. Just the perfect tea to usher in the nice weather of spring, with mellow grassy flavors of the sencha, and sweetness from the cherry blossoms. Delicious.

I made cold brew! Tea in a glass pitcher, fill with cold water and let sit in fridge for four hours. INTOXICATING!