Yame gyokuro 2020 from o cha

Vendor notes:

Growing Region
Yame
Year
2020
Harvest
First and/or Shincha
Breed
Yabukita
Shading
Full Shade (Gyokuro / Matcha)
Steaming
Light
Color
Green
Aroma
Medium
Taste
Sweet
Astringency
Mild
Clarity
Clear

Review:

After a several days of awful winter storm water, decided to test a local spring water with a budget gyokuro from o cha: yame gyokuro.

Brewed like this: 5.5 g/ 65 mL in carbonized reduction mumyoi

13 min room temp
150s 50 C
180s 50 C
150s 70C
150s 75C
150s 80C
150s 90C
Ate the leaves with rice, avocado and bagel spices and a bit of yuzu sauce

Early steeps tasted of smooth dark chocolate. As I increased temperature, there was more fresh grassiness and sweetness. Best infusions were #3 and 4. Leaves had a nice nutty flavor.

Ultimately, I preferred brewing in this way,

40 mL with 5.5 g

90s 40C

60s 45C

90s 50C

120s 55c

120s 65c

120s 75c

60s 90c

Eat leaves

The umami in the first infusion is exceptionally rich resembling fine sesame oil and bone broth. Higher temperature infusions carry dark chocolate notes.

Comments

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From vendor: Origin: Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China Season: Spring Tea Harvest Date: March 25, 2020 Tea Bush: C. sinensis cv. Jiukeng Tea Garden: Qiandao Lake Organic Tea Garden Review: Brewed 5.2 g in 170 mL 75-80 C water No rinse / 30 s / 30 s / 40 s / 55 s / 1 m 30 s /2 m 30s Dry leaf: pale green and slightly yellow, suggesting lighter oxidation than standard. Small leaves, consistent with earlier harvest. Plenty of white fluff in bag and on leaves. 1 bud 1 leaf > 1 bud > 1 bud 2 leaves. Mild scent of nuts. Wet leaf has strong scent of sweet freshly blanched green beans or corn. In the mouth, persistent vegetal sweetness mostly of asparagus and corn mixed with milder aromas of raw nuts. Good minerality gives this all a nice structure and a "crisp hardness" like small bell ringing. Long aftertaste of sweet vegetal notes, butteriness and minerality. Astringency is very controlled. Overall, aroma is a bit too mild.

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