Yamane-en: Aomori Dattan Sobacha

Got this as a free sample from Yunomi and this tea is really cool. I’m trying to think if I’ve ever had buckwheat tea, but I don’t believe I have. Since it’s caffeine-free and I really should be in bed by now, I decided to brew some up without fear of keeping myself awake. The result is a lovely liquor that is very hearty and buttery.. almost brothy? This is very savory and a great herbal tea especially for those that do not like the vegetal taste of green tea. Also, the instructions suggested eating the buckwheat kernels and I can confirm you CAN. Tastes just like cereal and a little like popcorn. This might even be the MORE fun part. I used a strainer for this tea but next time I may not and just eat the kernels as they come next time.

This was one of my November free samples from Yunomi. Thanks to Yunomi for being amazing and providing monthly free samples! I got two different sobacha teas from the same company so I could compare them. I believe the only difference is the region in which the buckwheat was grown… Anyway, this one is from the Aomori prefecture and dattan sobacha is the type of buckwheat (same as tartary buckwheat). According to the product page, this sobacha is roasted slightly longer than the other one. The kernels are quite small compared to some other buckwheat teas I’ve seen, and they’re somewhat broken. Dry scent is roasty and very nutty with some grain notes.

Steeped tea smells delicious, like a combination of roasted peanuts and homemade wheat bread. The flavor is exactly like the smell, too. It’s sort of like a super roasty peanut butter, and it’s extremely tasty! I’m kind of reminded of sunflower seeds as well, probably because they’re roasted. It also has a natural sweetness that’s especially apparent in the aftertaste. Love buckwheat teas!