E. Alex Gerster
Tea Reviewer
Member since Jul. 18th, 2011. Reviewed 66 teas.
Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas from Japan
Page 1 of 1 page with 13 results
Organic Fukamushi Sencha from Den's Tea
Style: Sencha – Region: Shizuoka, Japan87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Feb. 11th, 2014
I have been drinking more organic teas lately, as they are becoming more available. This deep steamed Fukamushi Sencha from Den's Tea has been a great find with excellent flavor and aroma. It is a bit pricy but worthwhile as the steaming releases nuances that brew up very quickly for several steeps.
Overall light v...
Houjicha Roasted Green Tea from Wegmans
Style: Hojicha – Region: Japan73 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 2nd, 2013
Thanks again Alex Z. For the sample of this hojicha! It was a really nice switch from some of the darker/deeper roasted teas of this variety that I had tried recently.
Very good quality tea as can be seen in the dry leaves, and tasted right from the start. The flavors of sweet grass and grain enhance the lightly roa...
Houjicha - Smokey from Obubu Tea
Style: Hojicha – Region: Kyoto, Japan80 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 4th, 2013
Having sampled a number of roasts of Obubu Hojicha, I can definitely say this is my favorite. Sweet, smooth and very soothing. An earthy cup where the smokey flavor does not overwhelm the tea's natural flavor.
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Sencha Overture from Adagio Teas
Style: Sencha – Region: Japan77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 17th, 2013
In short steeps, I find this sencha much better than if you you steep for the full 2 minutes recommended on the package. Nice aroma and flavor with grassy notes, and prominent brothy (umami) qualities that make it rich yet refreshing. The second and third steeps off the leaves always seem better to me. Affordable quali...
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Hojicha from Adagio Teas
Style: Hojicha – Region: Japan73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 17th, 2013
Toasty, nutty, earthy and light roasted flavor. I enjoy this warm brewed most of the year, and iced in the summer. Adagio teas have consistently good quality that are great for everyday sipping. This Hojicha is particularly good with food, and is very refreshing when served cool.
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Kyobancha from Obubu Tea
Style: Kyobancha – Region: Kyoto, Japan80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 9th, 2013
Roasting the bancha leaves produces a tea that combines the best of hojicha and bancha together in one brew. The light grassy flavors are enhanced by the light smokiness, and the astringency is cut to a minimum. The sample I had of this was used up quickly as I tried brewing it both hot and cold the same day, and both ...
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Bancha Suruga from Den's Tea
Style: Bancha – Region: Shizuoka, Japan77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 9th, 2013
This is truly an "upgraded" Bancha, picked just after first flush from the larger, thicker base of the leaves. More astringent than sencha, but well balanced in flavor and aroma. I love the grassy flavor and feel it leaves in your mouth.
Den's Bancha Suruga is wonderfully refreshing when brewed as per their instruct...
Genmai (Toasted Sweet Rice / Brown Rice) from Obubu Tea
Style: Herbal Tea – Region: Japan83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 10th, 2011
Genmaicha is one of those teas that is really comforting, and always goes well with food. But some of the versions available in the US are really of poor quality. By offering you the roasted brown rice in this way you can adjust proportions and use it with what ever tea you prefer. I had some samples of sencha that wer...
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Sencha of the Summer Sun from Obubu Tea
Style: Sencha – Region: Kyoto, Japan87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 21st, 2011
A very nice sencha that brews up well in 4 infusions, keeping a bright green color and lightly savory flavor. Bright, lightly buttery, and yes a small amount of bitterness in the first brew. But a good kind of bitterness like fresh mustard greens or spinach. Shipped direct from Japan, this tea is actually quite reasona...
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Genmaicha Extra Green from Den's Tea
Style: Genmaicha – Region: Shizuoka, Japan87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 18th, 2011
I am a big fan of Genmaicha and was really happy when Den's included this loose sample in with the rest of my latest order. (They do offer this in tea bags as well) I never had matcha mixed with Genmaicha before, and was a bit skeptical, but was happily surprised from the moment I opened the pouch. The sweet aroma of m...
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Fukamushi-Sencha Special from Den's Tea
Style: Sencha – Region: Shizuoka, Japan90 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 18th, 2011
At the moment, this is probably my favorite everyday loose tea. Fukamushi Senchas are deep steamed when they are processed, making them exceptionally quick to brew, and letting them release their rich vegetal flavor in two to four steepings. Many can be a bit finicky to brew, but not this one from Den's.
The first ...
Yanagi Bancha from Obubu Tea
Style: Bancha – Region: Kyoto, Japan87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 12th, 2011
This tea was a very pleasant surprise, being extremely refreshing and full of nice green tea flavor. This is a true 'aracha' or farmer's tea, made from leaves and twigs of the same tea bushes used to make Obubu's excellent sencha teas. It has a mild sweetness and an aroma that is very much of green vegetal quality. Not...
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Genmai Cha from Adagio Teas
Style: Genmaicha – Region: Japan73 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Jul. 18th, 2011
Over the past year I have had some really mediocre genmaicha's, so I was pleasantly surprised when I recently tried Adagio Teas version of this Japanese classic. The initial sweet and nutty aroma of the dry tea transforms to a roasted rice and popcorn aroma as the tea steeps.
The translucent infusion has a nice lig...
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