Japanese green tea
October 5, 2015 7:13 PM Subscribe
I am very fond of Japanese green tea (sencha, not matcha) but I know very little about it, other than "A few times in my life someone has given me this cup of tea that tasted kind of like lawns and seaweed but in a good way and I must have more of this." I'd like to start exploring what's out there and educating my palate a bit, but … inexpensively. If that's even possible. My beverage budget is in "one six-pack of nice craft beer a week" territory. What should I try?
(Bonus question: the exact same question, but for kukicha instead of sencha.)
(Bonus question: the exact same question, but for kukicha instead of sencha.)
Go to TeaLuxe in Harvard Square. They have a nice selection of green tea (that is not fancified and flavored) which you can buy as a cup of hot wet tea at coffeeshop prices ($2-3) or as a tiny 10g $2 packet of dry tea that you can take home and brew up as a tasting flight. Or in larger quantities of course, but I think the fact that they'll make you up a teabag from their bulk bins is pretty charming.
posted by aimedwander at 7:41 PM on October 5, 2015
posted by aimedwander at 7:41 PM on October 5, 2015
Seconding Adagio, though I also get inexpensive genmaicha from Japanese / pan-Asian grocery stores.
posted by silentbicycle at 7:44 PM on October 5, 2015
posted by silentbicycle at 7:44 PM on October 5, 2015
It is possible. if there's a Peets in the area, they are both extremely knowledgeable about tea, and also sell it in their shops. Just stop by, and ask questions!
Also, I've found it much more cost effective to buy loose-leaf tea, and either getting a durable strainer, or paper one-use strainers. Those can be as low as $3 on Amazon.
posted by spinifex23 at 7:57 PM on October 5, 2015
Also, I've found it much more cost effective to buy loose-leaf tea, and either getting a durable strainer, or paper one-use strainers. Those can be as low as $3 on Amazon.
posted by spinifex23 at 7:57 PM on October 5, 2015
Response by poster: So okay, apologies for threadsitting, but I'd like to reframe my question a bit.
On the one hand, there's lots of tea stores that sell one generic kind of pretty-cheap sencha, and I find that stuff tasty.
On the other hand, there's sites like this with dozens and dozens of different varieties, all apparently with different characters, some ordinary and some fancy (and I've seen websites that get much fancier than that one even, or at least more expensive). I've had a cup of the good stuff once or twice and found it mind-blowing.
So: I'm looking to occasionally blow let's say twenty bucks on some of the good stuff and learn to appreciate it better in the process. Where do I start?
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:21 PM on October 5, 2015
On the one hand, there's lots of tea stores that sell one generic kind of pretty-cheap sencha, and I find that stuff tasty.
On the other hand, there's sites like this with dozens and dozens of different varieties, all apparently with different characters, some ordinary and some fancy (and I've seen websites that get much fancier than that one even, or at least more expensive). I've had a cup of the good stuff once or twice and found it mind-blowing.
So: I'm looking to occasionally blow let's say twenty bucks on some of the good stuff and learn to appreciate it better in the process. Where do I start?
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:21 PM on October 5, 2015
My recommendations is obviously loose leaf (duh.)
BUT if you're looking to really understand what teas you like, then the best thing to do is to smell them. Granted, sometimes things smell different than they taste but for the most part, teas are pretty true to their overall fragrance. For example some sencha teas may have other flavors mixed in. You should be able to smell different things like smokey, grassy, fresh, minty, fruity, floral, bright, etc.
So if you have a local loose leaf tea supplier where you can smell the tea before you buy it, you'll get a better idea. Tea is such a personal preference thing that you really have to experience it first hand.
IF you have to buy from an online place, most have good descriptions on the type of flavors they'll give off. Then you can order a few types, maybe an earthy one, a full bodied one, and a light fruity one (or whatever their descriptions say) and try them out.
Tea is similar to coffee or wine in that everyone's tastes are different and it's really a full sense experience.
So to start, I'd head somewhere that has loose leaf, then buy enough of each type just for a couple cups of tea. Most tea only calls for about a tablespoon per cup and most dry tea is weighed by the ounce. So you can get a good amount for not-so-much money. That's the best way to see what's out there. (Similar goes for online. Get the smallest quantities in a variety of types. There's nothing worse than having paid a ton of money for an ounce of tea you won't use.)
posted by Crystalinne at 8:41 PM on October 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
BUT if you're looking to really understand what teas you like, then the best thing to do is to smell them. Granted, sometimes things smell different than they taste but for the most part, teas are pretty true to their overall fragrance. For example some sencha teas may have other flavors mixed in. You should be able to smell different things like smokey, grassy, fresh, minty, fruity, floral, bright, etc.
So if you have a local loose leaf tea supplier where you can smell the tea before you buy it, you'll get a better idea. Tea is such a personal preference thing that you really have to experience it first hand.
IF you have to buy from an online place, most have good descriptions on the type of flavors they'll give off. Then you can order a few types, maybe an earthy one, a full bodied one, and a light fruity one (or whatever their descriptions say) and try them out.
Tea is similar to coffee or wine in that everyone's tastes are different and it's really a full sense experience.
So to start, I'd head somewhere that has loose leaf, then buy enough of each type just for a couple cups of tea. Most tea only calls for about a tablespoon per cup and most dry tea is weighed by the ounce. So you can get a good amount for not-so-much money. That's the best way to see what's out there. (Similar goes for online. Get the smallest quantities in a variety of types. There's nothing worse than having paid a ton of money for an ounce of tea you won't use.)
posted by Crystalinne at 8:41 PM on October 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
My favorite tea store is Postcard Teas. They were wonderfully knowledgeable and if you are in London, will brew you taste flights before you make a decision. Here is their Japanese green tea page There are also straight from Japan tea dealers, which I am sure people will recommend as having exquisite choices. When you find an excellent vendor, trust their curation of the teas.
You could also find a tea master based in your area that would walk you through the best choices. You can do tasting flights at tea houses/salons as well on your own. There are some serious tea nerds and making a regular party of drinking and trying Japanese green teas from a top flight tea vendor is a great meet up idea.
For education purposes, here is a good list of books that are quite good and a wonderful to do self-guided learning on tea.
If you end up being my Secret Quonsar draw, I now know what to get you.
posted by jadepearl at 9:38 PM on October 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
You could also find a tea master based in your area that would walk you through the best choices. You can do tasting flights at tea houses/salons as well on your own. There are some serious tea nerds and making a regular party of drinking and trying Japanese green teas from a top flight tea vendor is a great meet up idea.
For education purposes, here is a good list of books that are quite good and a wonderful to do self-guided learning on tea.
If you end up being my Secret Quonsar draw, I now know what to get you.
posted by jadepearl at 9:38 PM on October 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My main recommendation is to experiment, both with different types of sencha (and/or other teas) and with steeping methods.
The site you linked to looks amazing and would work well. Another option is Tealyra; they have 9 different sencha along with other Japanese green teas. They offer sizes down to 25 g, small enough for you to sample a few different kinds for $20 or so.
I'm sorry I cannot offer any specific recommendations for sencha, but this will depend on your tastes anyway.
The character of a cup of tea changes significantly with steeping methods; it's good to start with the recommendations from the supplier but I generally find I prefer cooler water and shorter steeping times than given. Green tea, especially when steeped gently like this, is good for multiple infusions. I will use the gyokuro I have (the variety that first came to mind when you said "lawns and seaweed") for four infusions (so four pots from the same helping of tea) of 90 seconds each, the first at only 140 °F.
You might also want to look into a small tea pot and a chatsford strainer.
posted by mountmccabe at 10:07 PM on October 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
The site you linked to looks amazing and would work well. Another option is Tealyra; they have 9 different sencha along with other Japanese green teas. They offer sizes down to 25 g, small enough for you to sample a few different kinds for $20 or so.
I'm sorry I cannot offer any specific recommendations for sencha, but this will depend on your tastes anyway.
The character of a cup of tea changes significantly with steeping methods; it's good to start with the recommendations from the supplier but I generally find I prefer cooler water and shorter steeping times than given. Green tea, especially when steeped gently like this, is good for multiple infusions. I will use the gyokuro I have (the variety that first came to mind when you said "lawns and seaweed") for four infusions (so four pots from the same helping of tea) of 90 seconds each, the first at only 140 °F.
You might also want to look into a small tea pot and a chatsford strainer.
posted by mountmccabe at 10:07 PM on October 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
I will use the gyokuro I have (the variety that first came to mind when you said "lawns and seaweed")
Yeah, I don't know brands, but if you want something mind-blowing, look for high-grade gyokuro over sencha.
posted by thetortoise at 10:44 PM on October 5, 2015
Yeah, I don't know brands, but if you want something mind-blowing, look for high-grade gyokuro over sencha.
posted by thetortoise at 10:44 PM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: Brands?
I went to the Northwest Tea Festival last weekend, and got a chance to try some of the green teas offered by Sugimoto USA. I liked them all, and bought a bag each of their sencha and kuki cha. All of their teas had a bright, clean taste to them, and each infusion had it's own complexity. Their kuki cha especially was really sweet and nice.
They also have a sampler pack for $10, where you can pick your own teas to put in them. So, if you're only interested in the senchas and kuki chas, you can get those.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2015
I went to the Northwest Tea Festival last weekend, and got a chance to try some of the green teas offered by Sugimoto USA. I liked them all, and bought a bag each of their sencha and kuki cha. All of their teas had a bright, clean taste to them, and each infusion had it's own complexity. Their kuki cha especially was really sweet and nice.
They also have a sampler pack for $10, where you can pick your own teas to put in them. So, if you're only interested in the senchas and kuki chas, you can get those.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2015
One problem with local tea shops is turnover and freshness. I'm not an expert in sencha, but it seems to me that green tea seems to get stale faster than black teas. I'm very fond of Lupicia and they often have samplers.
Since you're in the Boston area, you could take a look at Ebisuya in Medford and see what they have - probably more everyday teas, but the turnover issue should be less (and get some delicious, cheap sushi while you're there).
posted by chocotaco at 3:54 AM on October 6, 2015
Since you're in the Boston area, you could take a look at Ebisuya in Medford and see what they have - probably more everyday teas, but the turnover issue should be less (and get some delicious, cheap sushi while you're there).
posted by chocotaco at 3:54 AM on October 6, 2015
Best answer: Hi, I drink Sencha pretty much every day, and flew to Japan last month in order to blow a crapload of money on tea. I am going to write a bunch of stuff into this text box now.
Sencha is a pretty delicate and fiddly tea. Whereas black teas can be brewed with boiling water and steeped for relatively long times, Sencha generally needs lower temperatures, shorter brewing times, and as little movement as possible during the brew. That grass-and-seaweed taste you got is exactly what Sencha is going for, but it's generally only possible with higher-grade Senchas and the right brew process. Otherwise, you get a bitterness and astringency that is great for Darjeelings and less great for Sencha. In my personal experience, the higher the quality, the better the flavor and the harder it is to brew.
If you are just starting out, I would not blow a crapload of money on high-grade Sencha and specialized equipment (for example, a kyushu is important in fancier senchas, for ensuring the leaves are evenly covered, brew consistently, and agitate as little as possible). Maeda-en or O-cha (linked by somebody else) have decent Senchas for not a whole lot of money. Follow their instructions to the letter and you'll have a perfectly decent tea for your daily routine.
This rabbit hole goes deep, though. Sencha's new crop happens in mid-to-late April, and often tastes grassier and fresher – some people (hi) are fond of getting it overnighted from Japan and blowing their friends' minds with it. Meanwhile, other types of sencha are grown at increasingly higher qualities – mostly having to do with its processing technique, when it's picked, and how it's processed. Gyokuro is the highest grade of sencha. I recommend buying it from someplace like Ippodo. If you can head to their shops in Manhattan, Kyoto, or Tokyo, do it – they are extremely knowledgeable and have many different varietals.
In short, Sencha is the same tea plant as any other kind of green, black, or oolong tea – you're drinking the same plant in your smoky Assam – but its growth, processing, and consumption differ significantly from all other green teas.
Hope this helps!
posted by nickd at 7:36 AM on October 6, 2015 [16 favorites]
Sencha is a pretty delicate and fiddly tea. Whereas black teas can be brewed with boiling water and steeped for relatively long times, Sencha generally needs lower temperatures, shorter brewing times, and as little movement as possible during the brew. That grass-and-seaweed taste you got is exactly what Sencha is going for, but it's generally only possible with higher-grade Senchas and the right brew process. Otherwise, you get a bitterness and astringency that is great for Darjeelings and less great for Sencha. In my personal experience, the higher the quality, the better the flavor and the harder it is to brew.
If you are just starting out, I would not blow a crapload of money on high-grade Sencha and specialized equipment (for example, a kyushu is important in fancier senchas, for ensuring the leaves are evenly covered, brew consistently, and agitate as little as possible). Maeda-en or O-cha (linked by somebody else) have decent Senchas for not a whole lot of money. Follow their instructions to the letter and you'll have a perfectly decent tea for your daily routine.
This rabbit hole goes deep, though. Sencha's new crop happens in mid-to-late April, and often tastes grassier and fresher – some people (hi) are fond of getting it overnighted from Japan and blowing their friends' minds with it. Meanwhile, other types of sencha are grown at increasingly higher qualities – mostly having to do with its processing technique, when it's picked, and how it's processed. Gyokuro is the highest grade of sencha. I recommend buying it from someplace like Ippodo. If you can head to their shops in Manhattan, Kyoto, or Tokyo, do it – they are extremely knowledgeable and have many different varietals.
In short, Sencha is the same tea plant as any other kind of green, black, or oolong tea – you're drinking the same plant in your smoky Assam – but its growth, processing, and consumption differ significantly from all other green teas.
Hope this helps!
posted by nickd at 7:36 AM on October 6, 2015 [16 favorites]
Oh, and it should go without saying that all of my recommendations involve loose leaf tea. Bagged is great in a pinch, but with loose you get a vast bump in quality for less money. If you don't already have a strainer, it's worth the meager investment.
posted by nickd at 7:39 AM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nickd at 7:39 AM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've gone through a couple hundred grams of sencha from Ocha & Co. (by way of Amazon). I'm not a tea aficionado or anything, but I like it (and it's cool getting packages from Japan).
posted by zengargoyle at 7:49 AM on October 6, 2015
posted by zengargoyle at 7:49 AM on October 6, 2015
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posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 7:27 PM on October 5, 2015