After several days of rain, the trees are glowing with vibrant washes of gold, russet, ruby and magenta. The wind sighs through the branches, releasing a cascade of leaves that float and dance across the lawn. Autumn has truly embraced us here in New England.
2 years ago I reviewed a tea called Japanese Gyokuro Kamakura, a green tea. You can read that review here. This year’s harvest of Gyokuro is splendid and I am pleased to review it once again.
Its deep emerald leaves match the saturation of the reflected autumn palette. The cut of the leaf reminds me of freshly mown grass.
In the purging process in preparation for my imminent move, I found this little beauty tucked away at the back of my kitchen cabinet. It is called a Yokode Kyusu, or commonly known as a Sencha teapot, with the handle being on the side of the teapot. The Japanese word for teapot is kyusu.
The strainer, located inside of the teapot at the base of the spout, allows me to steep the leaves directly in the water. I steeped for 3 minutes with 170 degree F water.
This is the tea that I will recommend to folks looking for a truly green colored tea. Most steeped green tea is not pure green but varying shades of brownish or yellowish green. China Pi Lo Chun even has a pinkish tinge to its liquor.
The first word that comes to mind as I inhale its aroma and take my first sip is fresh.
So very clean and fresh. Delightful! Quite vegetal, with a whisper of asparagus, but oh! so very smooth. No astringency or tang in the finish. As it cools, the smooth quality becomes even more pronounced.
I am enjoying my tea in a Japanese pottery mug I purchased at the Wabi Sabi gift store in downtown Taos, NM. I immediately knew it was my kind of place because as I entered, wide eyed and entranced by all of the teaware surrounding me, I was pleasantly asked by the store clerk if I would like a cup of Sencha tea.
Oh, yes, please.
I am happy and excited to report that after 5 months of waiting, the closing on my condo has finally taken place this past week! This has definitely been a lesson in perseverance and patience and hanging in there for what you truly want. So, starting this weekend, a transformation will begin to take place as I pick up my paintbrush (and roller) and paint Morning Sunshine (Benjamin Moore) throughout my new living room and kitchen space.
The first step in this new chapter of my life…
- “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” ~Lao-tzu
Art and Tea 
Thanks, we will be ordering Japanese Gyokuro Kamakura tea soon.
CONGRATUATIONS!!!!! i can’t think of a more suitable color to grace your home. can’t wait to see photographs…
the tea sounds like another one i’ll have to try – xxx n
hell, i can’t spell. sorry ’bout that….x
That sounds the conclusion to a very thoughtful writing piece. I have always thought that every tea, just like every wine, has its own character, its own breathing, its own rhythm and history. When all the lights will have gone out, their true self shines in aroma, taste and color.
Congratulations on your new home! Enjoy making it YOURS!
Karen.. so excited for you. A new chapter ahead of you; the beginnings of a great and happy story.
Congratulations, Karen! I remember only too well that business of picking up a paint roller as soon as our house closed — 22 years ago. The day we closed (we had leased this house for 2 1/2 years), I walked into the family room and pulled a corner of the wallpaper off! My husband thought I had gone bonkers. But that room was painted a soft shade of yellow and has been that way ever since. (And I painted the fireplace PEACH!)
Kathy V in NM
Hi Jaroslav, enjoy your Gyokuro!
Thanks Nina! no worries about the spelling. 😉
Thanks Christopher, I so agree!
Thanks so much, Snap, it’s starting to come together, one small step at a time!
Thanks Judy, yes, a wonderful new beginning!
Thanks Kathy! It sounds like you can relate to the painting “bug”!
Japanese teas could be said to be the “true” green teas since they strive for greenness in all their growing and processing. They want that bright green color that boasts of the virtues of the tea. The Chinese do Puerh right, and Oolong. But the Japanese might be said to be the masters when it comes to green tea. –Teaternity
[…] I need a big dose of comfort this morning and so I turn to green tea. I am sipping a green tea from China that one usually associates with Japan, an organic Gyokuro. Produced for the Japanese market, everything about this tea is Japanese except for where it is grown. I have written about Japanese Gyokuro tea and its unique growing and processing here and here. […]