Green Kukicha

Tea: Green Kukicha
Vendor: Tao of Tea
Price: $ 2.50 / 0z.
Source: Japan
Vendor Description: Also known as Senkukicha. This tea is a non-roasted green version of Kukicha with a creamy sweet flavor similar to mangoes. Clear bright green brew. Low in caffeine.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea has a very interesting appearance as a mix of sencha leaves mixed with a heavy constituent of tea stems. The stems are very light colored in appearance and the leaves have a normal dark green color to contrast this.

1st Infusion: This tea has a very heavy and thick aroma to it. The flavor of the tea is very strong with a light astringency. It has a long lasting aftertaste and no sense of bitterness to it. It feels very full bodied for a green tea, but the flavor feels a bit muddled. Unlike many of the senchas I try the flavor for this one has a clouded feel to it, it is not easy to pick apart the component flavors to it, but rather has a more general broad flavor to it.

2nd Infusion: This has a thicker taste to it now. The light astringency has moved up to a medium astringency and the tea is exhibiting a woody flavor. The stems are coming more into play now.

Rating: 3/10

Conclusion: The flavor could express itself as being fresher and clearer rather than the muddled flavor it expressed. It also is rather expensive for a kukicha, especially in comparison to the sencha shinrikyu.