Gyokuro

Adventaggedon Day Eight – 2/5

I saw this tea today and I got really excited… for Cameron.

For me, this is the one type of tea that I’ve been absolutely dreading eventually getting in any of these advents – and today, in particular, was a bad day for it to happen because I’m just exhausted. I made myself a very small cup of it because I’m committed to seeing my advents through every day, but even I didn’t have it in me today to make a full mug or to brew a gongfu session. It was all seaweed and ocean water – just so, so not my thing. No fault to the tea though; it seems like an altogether solid Gyokuro if you like that kind of thing!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl7EWxIOUU2/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Lw_omlhHs

The Tea Practitioner Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 8

Double Japanese green teas today he he. I used the whole sample, which turned out to be 5 grams, and steeped at 140°F for 2 minutes.

Yum, it has such intensity of flavor. It’s like I’m sipping a thick and silky kabocha and spinach soup. Super squashy, which I love, it gives such a nice richness and satisfying savory flavor. Oodles of umami as well, but then on the top end there’s some fresh grassiness and a touch of warm hay, and even a tiny bit of astringency. A touch more bitterness than I would expect from a gyokuro, but there were quite a few small pieces in the pouch, so perhaps that had an effect. The aftertaste is actually reminding me of Brussels sprouts.

I combined the second and third steeps into one cup, and they taste extremely different from the first, almost clear and light with a soft marine flavor and a toastiness reminiscent of nori. There’s still a bit of grass, but not much on the vegetable front.

Overall, a lovely tea, especially since I was feeling quite tired so this was just the thing to pep me up a bit! :P