Shincha

What is shincha? Teapedia.org defines it as: Shincha, literally "new tea" is the first harvest (first flush) of a Japanese green tea. It is basically the same as Ichibancha, "first tea" and is distinguished by its fresh flavor and sweetness. The term "Ichibancha" will emphasize the difference to Nibancha (second tea) and Sanbancha (third tea). … Continue reading Shincha →

Ruby 18 Comparison Tasting

I recently had my first ever Ruby 18 black tea and so the natural next step is to do a comparison tasting. I ordered a sample from Mei Leaf recently as well as a sample from Harney and Sons with this very comparison in mind. I didn't realize until halfway through that I have never … Continue reading Ruby 18 Comparison Tasting →

Ruby 18: What Is This Sorcery?

I don't know what kind of wizardry went into making this cultivar, but it's a super interesting tea for sure. Ruby 18 was developed at the Taiwan Research and Extension Station that is run by the government of Taiwan. This tea has a very distinct flavor profile which is unlike any other tea I have … Continue reading Ruby 18: What Is This Sorcery? →

Kaori Black Japanese Black Tea

When I recently learned that Mei Leaf would be selling their first ever Japanese black tea, I knew I had to have it. I made a recent order with some leftover birthday cash and this Kaori Black was one of the teas that I purchased. I watched the Youtube video where Don drinks it, but … Continue reading Kaori Black Japanese Black Tea →