Tea: Organic KuKi Cha Green Kamakura
A Kukicha from Upton Tea Imports - Organic
Brand: | Upton Tea Imports |
Style: | Kukicha |
Region: | Kanagawa, Japan |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Loose? | Loose |
# Ratings: | 2 View All |
Product page: | Organic KuKi Cha Green Kamakura |
Reviewer: Alex Zorach
✓ 1452 teas reviewed
✓ 6 of Kukicha
✓ 219 of Green Tea
✓ 173 of Upton Tea Imports
✓ 3 from Kanagawa, Japan
✓ 65 from Japan
Review of Organic KuKi Cha Green Kamakura
February 10th, 2010
Aroma | Flavor | Value | Total |
7 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 73 of 100 |
Very Good | Good | Good Value |
The aroma of the dry tea is straw-like, but the brewed tea is a lot more like sencha, including a hint of the characteristic seaweed-like quality. In many ways it's typical for a Japanese green tea. There are a few woody tones in the aroma but they have a very different character from the woody qualities present in some oolongs. The brewed tea is golden-green and rather cloudy. Surprisingly bitter and astringent, even when brewed at a low temperature, but this gives the tea a crisp and refreshing quality.
Brewing at a high temperature makes this tea much more bitter and significantly more astringent, but, unlike many green teas, leaves the aroma relatively intact. Although I like bitterness, I prefer brewing this tea at a lower temperature, as this one is bitter enough on its own.
I haven't had much luck making multiple infusions. If you're going to do it, make the first one briefer than 3 minutes--after 3 minutes little aroma is left and the second cup is mostly just bitter and astringent.
This tea seems a bit pricey, especially since it's not great for multiple infusions, but I have found that very little leaf (or should I say twig) is needed to brew a flavorful cup. Unless you like really strong green tea, a little of this stuff will go a long way!