Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Georgia Tea Company
Product Description:
Gyokuro, whose name means “jade dew” is Japan’s finest and often costliest tea. It is not uncommon for a pound of the rarest Gyokuro to sell for thousands of dollars. What makes this variety unique? While the young leaves of the spring flush develop, the tea bushes are shaded from sun for three weeks. The sun-deprived tea that grows in the shade is high in chlorophyll, which makes it darker than normal, but lower in tannins, which makes it sweeter and mild tasting.
Taster’s Review:
I really like Gyokuro teas, but, I don’t enjoy them often because they can be on the pricy side. But I consider it an investment in good taste – an investment I am not able to afford to make often, but I enjoy every drop of it when I can!
The dry leaf has a strong vegetative fragrance and while it does soften a bit after steeping, the brewed tea is still smells quite grassy. I am glad that the taste isn’t “grassy” – it has more of a fresh, steamed vegetable taste than that of grass. It also has a pleasing nutty flavor to it. There is no bitterness to it. There is some dry astringency to it, but it is slight.
It is a very soothing tea to sip, one that I find to be perfect for the early evening when I’m ready to unwind. It’s a lovely way to end the day!
