In a previous post, I shared with you some general information about Ichiban Sencha.

The dry leaves…

were thin, flat, and finely cut needle shapes in varying sizes – better yet – they looked just like freshly mowed grass clippings. There were a few larger pieces of stems mixed in with the “clippings.”  My “grass clippings” were a colorful combination of green’s –colored like thick rich moss, in a damp shady forest, colored like crisp green spring onion tops, colored like fronds of seaweed floating near the ocean’s edge- collectively…lovely!  How’s that vivid description of their color? Their aroma was intensely, fresh, and grassy.

Brewing…

Be incredibly careful when brewing… these leaves will burn quickly if the water temperature is too high.  Again, it can be temperamental! The water temperature should be at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. My initial infusion was for 1 minute. You can brew this tea up to three times. The taste and aroma will change from the first infusion to the third infusion, but that is the fun part, comparing the infusions. But you can also discover “your own brewing method”. It can be an exciting experiment!

In my cup…

the aroma was reminiscent of sweet seaweed and cooked vegetables, a combination of asparagus and cooked spinach. At the backend however, there was a very subtle quality like perhaps honeysuckle or lilac? It certainly was a full- bodied green tea, what I expected – liquid grass in a cup.  I’m sorry you guys, but I am NOT a fan of green teas. It was, however, a beautiful, bright rich green-gold color in my cup.

A brisk infusion of a full -bodied green tea with highly scented vegetal and grassy notes. I know I could have had additional steeping’s, but like I said, green teas are not for me. However, for lovers of early spring green teas, this delivered that fresh, crisp, bright, and lively cup that you expect of a high quality sencha. This for me was a 1.

Rating Scale

All teas will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 for dislike and 5 as love:

1. Dislike (I didn’t like the tea and would not repurchase)
2. Passable (I didn’t dislike the tea, but I didn’t think it was very good)
3. Average (I didn’t find it good or bad and would drink it again)
4. Good (I liked it but it and may repurchase)
5. Love (I enjoyed it lot and would repurchase)

Next…Jat