It looks awesome
What Green Are You Drinking
I’ve been having an organic kabusecha sencha from Kagoshima Seicha pretty much every day for a few months now. When it runs out I’ll be at a loss since they sold out. It’s a very smooth SaeMidori with lots of umami warmth, and no bitterness. Like sipping on a sweet dew. Savory notes linger unfolding into a pleasant salvation. They also have a tea house in Kagoshima that’s been in operation for 130 years.
10g/200ml/155f/1.30sec in Maekawa Junzo Kobiwako clay 240ml kyusu. Lid rest is a sake cup made of Yakushima yakusugi (cedar). Jennifer Cheh a local artist made the tray.
10g/200ml/155f/1.30sec in Maekawa Junzo Kobiwako clay 240ml kyusu. Lid rest is a sake cup made of Yakushima yakusugi (cedar). Jennifer Cheh a local artist made the tray.
Futsumushi sencha Oku-Midori from Dōsenbō (TdJ).
I realize that I am not in a very descriptive phase, but I’ll make an effort with the pretext of posting here.
This tea presents the usual umami of the Oku-Midori cultivar but without the creamy pastry side that may be too much for some drinkers. It stays green and light on three infusions with a hint of acidity that develops at the second infusion and a slight bitterness with a little warmer brewing. Leaves show a beautiful green and a limpid liquor with an acid green-yellowish color. I made it according to Florent's recommendations.
I realize that I am not in a very descriptive phase, but I’ll make an effort with the pretext of posting here.
This tea presents the usual umami of the Oku-Midori cultivar but without the creamy pastry side that may be too much for some drinkers. It stays green and light on three infusions with a hint of acidity that develops at the second infusion and a slight bitterness with a little warmer brewing. Leaves show a beautiful green and a limpid liquor with an acid green-yellowish color. I made it according to Florent's recommendations.
Elise,
I've never tried this tea but you phrased it very well. This seems to be the flavor profile I enjoy.
The delicate abrasion of coarseness.
I was curious, are your tea caddies from SyuRo? Reading their care and appreciation paper, which I cannot find at the moment, recommends great tenderness and insight into the long relationship they foresee with their product. It's a joy to read.
Thank you, Elise, for the information and photographs.
Your caddy does indeed stand out in quality and elegance.
I found this wording on the Kaikadō website:
"Growing beauty through time is the principle fascination in Chazutsu. Gently caressing the entire body of Chazutsu day after day brings out a mysteriously elegant sheen and gleam to its years. Chazutsu provides utility and pleasure as it ages gracefully with ownership."
Talk about passion!
In the upcoming days I will be enjoying Hatvala's Thai Nguyen (Fish Hook) and Yen Bai (Five Penny). The Fish Hook is lighter and fresher in taste than other Thai Nguyen teas I've had, but it does achieve the same bitterness that if reached successfully makes me feel I've hit true Vietnamese steeping perfection.
Your caddy does indeed stand out in quality and elegance.
I found this wording on the Kaikadō website:
"Growing beauty through time is the principle fascination in Chazutsu. Gently caressing the entire body of Chazutsu day after day brings out a mysteriously elegant sheen and gleam to its years. Chazutsu provides utility and pleasure as it ages gracefully with ownership."
Talk about passion!
In the upcoming days I will be enjoying Hatvala's Thai Nguyen (Fish Hook) and Yen Bai (Five Penny). The Fish Hook is lighter and fresher in taste than other Thai Nguyen teas I've had, but it does achieve the same bitterness that if reached successfully makes me feel I've hit true Vietnamese steeping perfection.
Beautiful images shared @debunix, so perfect.
I have handled these beautifully made Kaikado tea caddies here in Los Angeles at Tortoise. They have a large selection of teaware as well for anyone visiting. Here is an album I shared at LATS a while ago.Elise wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:13 amThe tea caddies look alike the ones from SyuRo, they are in fact from Kaikadō. It is all carefully handmade And ver nice to use.
@Elise, I post some pictures here to give you an insight on the extraordinary craftsmanship. You can also have the scoop engraved with a name or other word.
Having a treat with a very limited edition, Sae Midori Gyokuro sold by Sinensis out of Tijuana. Sinensis director Salvador Sosa in partnership with Mite Co located in Mie, made this gyokuro available at the Los Angeles Tea Festival. This premium gyokuro is not sold at their online store, and was produced by Hagimura Seicha in Yokkaichi very close to Suzuka. Only 10kgs were made, 2 of which went to a tea contest in Japan in which they placed 5th, and 3kgs stay in their store in Yokkaichi, so only 5kgs was available to sell. The handpicked leaves are beautifully well-formed, long dark glossy green needles. It is an umami rich gyokuro, with a complex profile and warming notes of cooker bread and delicate fruit. Thick mouthfeel. Excelente! A very elegante gyokuro.
Steeped in Shiboridashi 150ml by Tani Seiuemon (b. 1913) made of Shigaraki clay.
Steeped in Shiboridashi 150ml by Tani Seiuemon (b. 1913) made of Shigaraki clay.
I used something like 3.5g or 4g for 160/170ml.
I always start around 70C for the first infusion (45 to 60 seconds), then I add 5 degree each time I reinfuse the leaves (30 seconds, 60 to 90 seconds, etc).
I never weight the leaves, or measure anything like the water amount or exact temperature. I did it at first and then when I found a way to reproduce the temperature parameter I sticked to it and work now with feelings.
@Elise, Would be great to get your input in this new thread discussing Traditional Methods of Estimating Water Temperature.