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drank Sencha from Hon.yama, Umegashima, Tomochi, Yabukita cultivar by Thés du Japon
1644 tasting notes

This tea deserves an abstract impressionistic painting to be made of itself.

I feel like I do not have adequate words, but I will try my best below.

At first notice, the tea is floral forward and upward. The light color of the liquor cloaks a vegetal quality that is round, robust, grounding, deep; neither meek nor overbearing but something that reminds me of a forgotten mossy forest path, providing a springy base to soften one’s step across earth, wood and wet rock. A mild fruity and buttery back-end is revealed on the upper palate once some bitterness in the tonsils and back of the throat subsides, while a simultaneously dewy-sweet and cooling aftertaste presents. The retronasal perfume carries throughout the session. At times, there is a playful brush of astringency in the full body; in other moments the astringency is more prominent, as a light squeeze on the arm would feel. A joy for me as a lover of structure, and most importantly, the way the tea feels in my body.

The generosity of Thés du Japon is much appreciated.
4 comments
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gmathis
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Just wow.

ashmanra
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Mmmmmmm…..

tanluwils
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I love it when a tea demands artistic tribute. I’ve been drinking mostly raw pu’er but am a sencha dude at heart. I may need to try teas from this vendor – they market their teas as higher-end senchas and don’t seem to have much in the way of competitors. The only thing that’s been stopping me from making an order is the shipping costs.

derk
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Sorry, I’m just now seeing your comment, tanluwils. I’m putting together an order to be placed maybe next week(early-mid January) with another Steepster member. If you’d like to join in please let me know!

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Comments

gmathis
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Just wow.

ashmanra
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Mmmmmmm…..

tanluwils
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I love it when a tea demands artistic tribute. I’ve been drinking mostly raw pu’er but am a sencha dude at heart. I may need to try teas from this vendor – they market their teas as higher-end senchas and don’t seem to have much in the way of competitors. The only thing that’s been stopping me from making an order is the shipping costs.

derk
Delete

Sorry, I’m just now seeing your comment, tanluwils. I’m putting together an order to be placed maybe next week(early-mid January) with another Steepster member. If you’d like to join in please let me know!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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