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A bowl of koicha to soothe my frazzled nerves. I didn't expect to like ippodo's nodoka so much, yet here I am, down to my last tin, and feeling rather emotional about it.

Since it's Friday, I'm trying a couple single cultivar senchas from Thes du Japon. Florent's brewing is too strong for me so I'm using more water(180ml instead of 70) and that seems to suit me well.

I'm specifically looking for energy/focus without harsh caffeine side effects. Matcha and gyokuro seem to do that for me. I find shaded Japanese teas especially calming and usually turn to gyokuro mecha (made from the the buds separated during gyokuro processing) or konacha(made up of small bits of...

Checked on and tasted my aging cakes. The bulang made me sweaty/loopy. Had tea after with someone who took themselves very seriously. Got a headache. Drank more tea to alleviate it. Finished off what was left in the gaiwan once I got back home. Guess I should probably eat something now.

First tea of the day is a matcha smoothie bowl. Hibiki-an's house matcha does the trick nicely. Checking on the pu'er today, so much of my actual tea drinking will be focused there.

Oh my, just woke and for a moment thought I'd logged into reddit by mistake. Since I'm here I may as well throw in a couple cents of my own. Though he's come a ways, marketing-wise, since the days of forgetting to comb his hair before appearing on camera, after being treated to a tasting of mei leaf...

Woke around 4:30. Turned a year old bag of sencha into houjicha. Drank houjicha all day. Forgot about the holiday so I'll have to wait another day for the new tea. Think I'll switch to matcha now and then call it a night.

@Jo Well, I am fond of limited edition tea things. We'll see if it's still available on Friday when the tea budget is replenished. If not, pining for the one that got away has it's own sort of appeal and I see they have gyokuro karigane, which I like very much.

Gave bitterleaf's Monsieur Lafleur a taste this afternoon. Very charming, much flowers. This cake has no chance of growing old as I will drink it all before very long. I will buy more.

Sadly, I could likely guess the vendor where I am personae non grata and am all but named public enemy number one on their "about our store" page. But on a positive note, really enjoying yet another bag of 20 Anniversary special edition Sae Midori from ... yes O-Cha. ... 5th steep still enjoyable. ...

Today's Japanese lesson was especially tough and left me a bit grumpy so decided to order yet more tea to lift my mood. Checked out a new-to-me vendor with some interesting all-organic offerings but their weirdly passive aggressive 'about the company' page put me off so much I just ordered some samp...

Dresden I'm halfway through the second bag of the farmer's tea. It's my first aracha and I'm already quite fond of it. For me, the first brew is best--crisp, fresh and very slightly floral--but cold brew is better. The traditional is still my favorite of the hibiki-an shincha but farmer's is a clos...

@Noonie It was the same for me. Matcha especially was an impetus to giving up wine entirely, after so many years of it being a huge part of my life. Much nicer for my wallet and waistline.

Spent the day in wine country, which as a reformed wino wine drinker, was a little underwhelming. Afterwards, shared a bowl of koicha with my favorite person, which more than made up for it. Good tea, good company. Feeling very quiet and relaxed now.

Felt better today so cut my hair, made tofu for hiyayakko and had it on the deck with some shincha brewed hotter than usual to bring out some much needed bitterness. I look and feel less like a wild creature now, about which I have mixed feelings.