Cha Ka and Sae Gyokuro Matcha from Samurai Tea Master via Sei Mee Tea

Matcha is generally made from a specially grown and processed tea called Tencha. There are always exceptions to this, as sometimes tea sellers grind up other teas like Sencha or various Chinese Greens to cut cost or create a new profile. The matcha today is made with Gyokuro, which commands a luxuriously higher price for Japanese teas. The cultivation of Gyokuro and Tencha are similar, as they are both shaded, steamed, but Gyokuro is rolled whereas Tencha is destemmed flakes. There is also a long research rabbit hole as different cultivars could be used for both teas, also changing the… Continue reading, hoot!

2019 May The Essence of Tea Club feat. 2019 Dragonwell and 1990s Liubao

Admittedly, I was hoping to dodge fresh green teas as those are simply not a thing I enjoy drinking but I failed. The Essence of Tea’s club doesn’t have a preview online of what we are going to get. This month’s Essence of Tea club is “Something Old and Something New” with a fresh 2019 Dragonwell/ Long Jing green tea and old 1990s Liubao. Traditional Variety Qun Ti Zhong Dragonwell The dry leaf smells of zesty grass and toasted rice. I did grandpa style here, so 3 grams for a small Wall Mug (around 280ml/9.4oz) in 79c/175f water temperature. I… Continue reading, hoot!

2019 Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha and Shi Feng Long Jing from Masters by Adagio Tea

2019 Spring tea time! Today I’ll be drinking two new green teas, Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha and Shi Feng Long Jing, from Adagio Tea’s new Masters Tea line. Masters by Adagio features limited edition, fresh, and exceptional teas. I love trying the newest, freshest teas but sadly I’m just not a green tea drinker. That said, you get a review from a more cranky perspective. Steeping method for both teas will be grandpa style, I’m throwing in 3 grams of leaf, small The Wall mug (9oz/280ml), 79c/175F water and letting it do its thang. Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha… Continue reading, hoot!

Bruu Tea Club Review

Bruu Tea Club is based in the UK. For £10 a month, or cheaper if you subscribe for 3-12 months, (add £2.99 for outside UK shipping) you get three loose leaf teas a month and a little surprise. The tea club is personalized with your preferences with an algorithm. You can also purchase teas from Bruu, at this time I counted 67 teas to choose from. Unboxing of Bruu Tea Club Bruu Tea Club came with 3 teas, clocking in around 14 grams each. Also included was a tea ball strainer and vegan gluten free milk chocolate (for Easter). Tasting… Continue reading, hoot!

Sun Goddess Matcha from Pique Tea

I’m always on the lookout for new good matcha. Today is testing Pique Tea’s Sun Goddess Matcha, an organic ceremonial grade tea which hosts a number of firsts for matcha. For one, it is quadruple tested for heavy metals, pesticides, mold, and radiation. It is also shaded 35% longer to encourage more l-theanine and umami flavour. This matcha has been through some tough things to ensure it is pure. If you are new here, I’ve reviewed plenty of other matchas if you would like to compare. You can also check out Pique Tea’s guide to Premium Matcha for more in… Continue reading, hoot!

Lychee Purple Leaf, Turmeric Mango Green, and Citrus Sonata Oolong from Artful Tea

Today’s review is a selection of flavoured tea blends from Artful Tea. Artful Tea sells flavoured and unflavored loose leaf teas. The teas I’m trying today are in sampler packaging, which they fill a tea bag filter with around 5-7grams of tea, enough for a large 12oz serving steeped western style. Artful Tea’s Lychee Purple Leaf Tea Lychee Purple Leaf Tea is a blend of Kenyan Purple Leaf tea, apple, pineapple, lemon peel, currants and lychee flavour. The dry leaf smells like blueberries and lychee. I recall Purple Leaf being quite sensitive to temperature, so I used 175F for around… Continue reading, hoot!

Smile Tea Organic Premium Matcha by Birouen Tea House

Matcha Time! Today’s matcha is Smile Tea Organic Premium Matcha by Birouen Tea House, which is from Kirishima, Japan. It is JAS organic and ceremonial grade. The instructions on the back of the package are confusing as the list and written instructions list different amounts of powder and water. I have never heard of steep time with matcha either. With matcha, I find it is best to just stick to 2 grams and use water to taste. Matcha Powder and Preparation Smile Matcha’s powder is full of colour, but dark green instead of the vibrant nuclear green I like to see.… Continue reading, hoot!

Vanilla and Mocha Matcha from The Whistling Kettle

Today I’m testing out The Whistling Kettle’s flavored matcha. These are labeled for matcha lattes, so you will want to mix these with milk. There is no sugar in these matchas, but obviously, they have added flavoring. Whistling Kettle does have an unflavored organic and ceremonial matcha if you want a traditional cup of matcha. I have the Vanilla and Mocha Matcha. Each package is 100 gram/3.50z of matcha. I use 3 grams for around 8oz/235ml serving, so that’s a lot of matcha lattes for $20 package. The Whistling Kettle’s Vanilla Matcha The colour of the Vanilla Matcha powder is… Continue reading, hoot!

White Anastasia, BB Detox, and Jasmine Green from Kusmi Tea

A few weeks back, I reviewed the Russian Blends collection, a set of 5 Earl Grey teas, which I selected to review. More often than not, when a tea company contacts me, I choose the teas I want to write about. However, there was a mix-up and I got BB Detox, White Anastasia, and Jasmine Green tea bags from Kusmi Tea first. White Anastasia, I am totally down with. However, anything with “detox” in the name makes me run for the hills and I laugh at beauty claims. I’ve said this multiple times, if tea did anything magical, with the amount… Continue reading, hoot!

Green Tea With Japanese Orange and Lemon from JapaneseGreenTeaIn.com

I’m a daily matcha drinker. More often, I simply throw 3 grams in some water then hit the gym. If I have the time in the morning, I will go all out with a bowl of matcha high in froth. Today, let’s check out a new matcha/green tea powder by JapaneseGreenTeaIn.com, maker of one of my favorite matchas. This product was actually a collaboration with the Arahataen tea farm in Shizuoka, Japan, and a local high school. The challenge was to come up with a tea that the younger generation will enjoy. That said, we have Green Tea with Orange… Continue reading, hoot!