Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Tea Wing

Tea Description:

A blend of stems and leaves which are shaded 20 days prior to harvest. This kabuse is naturally sweet and bright with a beautiful aroma. The shaded leaves are a deep green and the steeped liquor yield has an almost “chewy” mouthfeel. Lots of flavor.

Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This Karigane #22 from Tea Wing represents the third of the five teas that I’m tasting from the inaugural Steepster Select box.  (Well, it’s the first after a year plus hiatus, anyway!)

The aroma of the dry leaf is grassy, evocative of freshly cut grass.  I noticed a lot of stems and finely cut leaves, looking as though both have been finely shredded, reminding me of a Japanese Sencha.  The brewed tea smells very vegetative … and tastes vegetative too.

The flavor tastes of sweet grass and lightly buttered vegetables.  It is a strong vegetal taste, so if you’re one who tends to shy away from green teas with that strong leafy taste, this tea might not be the one for you.  Me, I like it.  It has a very clean and pure kind of flavor, and it’s pleasantly invigorating.

As the tea cools slightly, I am picking up on some creamy notes, and I find that these creamy notes develop as I continue to sip.  Maybe slightly buttery, but also … tasting of sweet cream.

The finish is agreeably sweet, and it’s a sweetness that reminds me of agave nectar!  At first I thought that maybe, somehow … I had added some agave nectar to the cup, but, since there isn’t any agave nectar in the house at the moment, I don’t know how that would have happened.

A very enjoyable cup of tea with a thick, brothy mouthfeel that complements the vegetal, creamy taste of the tea.  Another WIN from Steepster Select!  If you haven’t yet signed up for it, why not?  You should get yourself here and sign up as soon as possible!  You’ll be happy you did!