Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: deep green, needle-like
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 122 degrees
Preparation Method: Hagi Glazed Houjin
Liquor: very pale green, almost clear
I was really excited to try this tea because I really enjoyed Aiya’s Premium Gyokuro. The dry leaves were a deep, rich green and they had a very fresh aroma. It was delicately sweet and vegetal. The flavor almost reminded me of tender asparagus. There was no bitterness and the aftertaste was clean and refreshing. Gyokuro is normally one of my favorite teas to drink in the summer but this was a bit of sunshine on a gloomy winter day. I love the fact that it is organic. Pesticides are a big concern for someone who drinks tea as much as I do. I’ve now tried several of Aiya’s offerings and I’ve been very impressed. Matcha, Sencha and Gyokuro are not inexpensive teas and it’s nice to know that the quality is what it should be. Lately I’ve become a fan of eating my gyokuro leaves after steeping. It is a common practice in Japan but you might get some odd looks here in the states. This time around I drizzled it with a bit of oil and a pinch of salt.
You can find out more about this tea here.