Sep 06
Review: American Tea Room Special Reserve Midori Sencha
American Tea Room, Green Tea, Melon Tea, Sencha Tea Add commentsJamie’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "The tea itself is sweet and smooth, the sencha is ideally matched with the fruit scenting as it's mild but full bodied with no astringency and no distinct oceany or umami elements that might ring strangely with the melony flavor."
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This is the latest sample I've enjoyed from Le Palais Gourmet, a California based tea company. While I'm not currently reviewing one of their matcha offerings, I can't help passing along the information that through the month of August, they are offering a 20% discount on matcha and all accessories pertaining to its preparation and enjoyment. That means everything from whisks to bowls. You might like to check them out. While many of Le Palais Gourmet's tea offerings are off the spectrum price wise, their matcha bowls and other accoutrements seem competitively priced, especially with free shipping on purchases over $50.00 and the 20% discount.On to my sample. The Special Reserve Midori Sencha is an attractive blend of bright orange and yellow petals and organic sencha of a subdued dark olive green coloring and wide flat leaves. The scenting of the tea is rich and reminded me instantly of papaya, with a dusky musky mysterious sort of sweet fruit scent. According to Le Palais Gourmet, the scent I'm enjoying actually comes from two different types of Japanese Melon (neither named, sadly!). If I could best translate it, I'd suggest that the scenting is quite reminiscent of papaya, and melon too.
The fruity fragrance and taste is heady and with a hearty muskiness to it. We're drinking this on a hot summer morning (which I thought would never come this year!) and it is ideal. I'll make some more of this in a tea pitcher for later in the day when the heat builds up and a cold drink is welcome. I think it will be well suited to chilling. The tea itself is sweet and smooth, the sencha is ideally matched with the fruit scenting as it's mild but full bodied with no astringency and no distinct oceany or umami elements that might ring strangely with the melony flavor. The melony papaya-esque scenting is not overbearing and the sencha provides a fine creamy sort of base that supports it beautifully. No sweetener is needed with this tea, it's lovely au naturel. For our second infusion we added a hint of stevia and that created a luscious and nearly desserty tea that was fabulous. An excellent third infusion was had as well.
This is an excellently done flavored green tea. I'm really impressed. The fruit flavor is somewhat tropical in nature and would pair excellently with a fruit dessert, of fresh summer melons at their peak or with a tropical spread featuring papaya (especially) but other rich heady tropical fruits as well. Adults and children alike would take well to the luscious sweetness and the sencha is just right as the backdrop for these flavors. Altogether excellent.
In terms of pricing, I can't be of any assistance as the website is a bit baffling in this regard. I can assure you that the tea is at least somewhat pricey, which apparently is de rigueur at Le Palais Gourmet, but will leave you to make what you can of the stated price of $22.00 for an undisclosed amount of tea. 1 ounce, two, or maybe 3.5? I can't figure it out and haven't yet emailed Le Palais Gourmet to unravel the mystery. In any case, if you can discern the cost per ounce and find it acceptable, I not only congratulate you, but assure you that this is a tea well worth tasting. It's lovely!
Special Offer! Free shipping on all purchases over $60 from AmericanTeaRoom.com.
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September 6th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
After considerable searching of their website (they do NOT make it easy to find and I can’t imagine why), I discovered that their teas come in 1/4lb bags. which comes out about 65 cents per first brew cup, and a third of that for three infusions. Cheaper than a soda, and better for you, too!