Nov 08
Shelly’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "Slightly thick and slippery feeling in the mouth. It is also quite astringent and bitter. I just don’t care for it. It was a green tea that is way too, well… green."
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I have an image of myself in my mind while drinking this. There I am, sitting on the beach on a tropical island at the edge of the water. I am right where the waves swirl around you and you sink into the sand a little bit, but not enough to pull you under. Then suddenly, a huge piece of slimy green algae attaches to my foot with one of the waves. So I pick it up and begin chewing it and swallowing the juice. That is what this tea tastes like to me.It is pretty salty, which surprised me. It also has an odd texture to it that I could only think of as soapy. Not in the taste, but in that slightly thick and slippery feeling in the mouth. It is also quite astringent and bitter. I just don't care for it. It was a green tea that is way too, well... green.
The dry leaves were interesting, though. They actually looked like tiny little pine needles when I opened my tin. As such, about a third of the tea went flying through the air, onto the ground and everywhere else upon opening (as usual). Turns out it wasn't such a tragedy because it ended up in the wastebasket anyhow. However, the tea did look pretty and then it unfurled into really cool larger leaves which didn't seem possible when looking at it dry. The color of the brewed liquid was also a different experience for me, as it was almost chartreuse. But in the end, this tea didn't do it for me it and it happily watered my aloe vera plant.
Gyokuro was a mixed experience for me. Just like my image of myself sitting on the beach which was very good, the dry brew was something to behold and clearly of high quality. But that was followed by salty seaweed chewing part of my daydream while drinking the tea. No, thanks. Not one of the better green teas I've tried, but definitely different.
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Shelly Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Shelly's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Shelly. |
November 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
LOL Love the algae reference. I recently tried some of this stuff (from another vendor) with some peppermint mixed with it and it was still barely swallowable.
My Rating:
4/10
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I enjoyed this tea. The first infusion is somewhat “salty” but the second infusion turns out “sweeter”.
The first infusion yields a clear light green cup, whereas, the second infusion yields more of a cloudy jade cup.
Gyokuro is a finicky green tea to make. Too hot of water or to long of a steeping time, and it produces a bitter cup; also, you have to use more than you would other teas to produce a delicious cup of green tea.
For the price, I would try the sample first before investing in the 5 oz. size. It is not an exceptional tea…there are other Premium Gyokuros out there that are better.
I would recommend this tea to the connoisseur/experienced Japanese green tea drinker.
My Rating:
5/10