Cameron B. select Send Message

351 Followers / 247 Following

Cameron B. drank Tencha by Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms

4362 tasting notes

Sipdown! (34 | 231)

This tea really surprised me. Tencha is the precursor to matcha, so it’s a shaded tea that’s had all of the stems and veins of the leaf removed. It’s very fluffy and light and is broken into small pieces, sort of resembling yerba mate in shape and size.

I was expecting a more intense flavor since matcha is generally shaded for a long time, even compared to gyokuro. But this tea is so smooth and has these wonderful nutty notes to it. It does have a rich, umami-laden flavor, but it’s not as intense as I expected, which I really liked.

Incredibly smooth, even after being neglected in a mug for a few hours while I worked. Generally I would expect a Japanese green tea to go somewhat bitter, since there are always small particles of tea at the bottom of the cup. Somehow this one didn’t!

Really a lovely tea, and one that I would keep in my cupboard. Happily, I have an unopened 30g bag somewhere. :)

Flavors: Butter, Butternut Squash, Cashew, Creamy, Kabocha, Kale, Nuts, Rich, Smooth, Spinach, Squash, Sweet, Thick, Vegetal

Preparation

160 °F / 71 °C 0 min, 45 sec 10 g 16 OZ / 473 ML

I Like This

12 likes

0 comments

People who liked this

Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- May sipdowns: 9
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 86

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing