orthodox_caveman select Send Message

Great sencha, probably my favorite tea in April’s steepster select package.

First steep (185, 1 min): Tastes like a vegetable medley cooked in butter. Very vegetal and buttery smooth finish.

Second steep (185, 1 min): Similar to first steep, much more toned vegetal flavor but the butter finish is still present.

Decent caffeine buzz.

I will update this once I try more whites. So far, this seemed very bland and maybe average at best.

First infusion (185, 3 mins): Bland, very very light hint of honey. Feels very creamy smooth in the mouth.

Second infusion (185, 3:30 mins): Even more bland, hint of honey was gone.

First steep (2 min, 160): I mostly tasted black pepper, and is present in the after taste as well. Some smokey flavor as well.

Second steep (2 min, 160): Very similar to first, I may try a third steep to see if the flavor changes then.

This is my first gunpowder green, not very offensive so I’m guessing a good first start.

First steep (200, 2:30 min): Strong floral taste, on the verge of astringent so I may try this again with slightly less steep time. Standard black tea.

Second steep (200, 2:30 min): Lightly floral some peppery aftertaste.

Great black tea, floral seems to be common to most black teas but the peppery aftertaste really set this apart for me. Decently caffeinated, probably average for black tea. 9/10 would steep again.

First Steep (190, 2 mins): Lightly sweetened green tea yet very similar to an oolong.

Second steep (190, 2 mins): Barely noticeable sweetness, more traditional oolong flavor in this steep than green tea.

Definitely interesting, a green tea that tastes like an oolong. Light sweet aftertaste but very complex initial taste.

First infusion (180, for 2 mins): Very nutty, probably the main flavor I smelled and tasted. Slight floral after taste.

Second infusion (180, for 2 mins): Nutty flavor is diminished but still present. The floral flavor comes forward more in this steep.

This was my first genmaicha and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to trying more but unfortunately I will have high standards after this one.