If you look for a way to prepare gyokuro on books or on the internet, you
will realize that there is a wide range of brewing conditions among the sources.
The ranges
Leaf: 2.5-5g (0.088-0.176oz)
Water:
20-40ml (0.7-1.4oz)
Temperature: 40-60C (104-140F)
Time:
1.5-3min
In gyokuro brewing, you might have experienced
that a slight difference in the conditions will make a big difference to the
taste. You can think of infinite
combinations within the ranges. Have you
figured out what’s best for your? I love flavorful gyokuro, so I prepare it with plenty of leaves and a little water in a
low temperature. It is something like the
following.
Leaf:
4g (0.14oz)
Water: 25ml
(0.88oz)
Temp: 45C
(113F)
Time:
2min
However, I’m interested in other ways since
I tried a smooth gyokuro at Gyokuro-no-sato (http://everyonestea.blogspot.jp/2012/05/importance-of-brewing-conditions.html) I’ll do some experiments to find out the way
to brew that type of tea that I’ve tried there.
I’ll introduce about it on the next entry.
Posts
Greetings, I was at the Obon festival today in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and they had a tea ceremony. The matcha they used was from Hoshino and the brand was called Yame and the selection was called Hoshino No Tsuyu. It was very nice. I bought some Gyokuro at a store near the festival for $8 for 50gm. I am sipping a cup right now and it is lovely. It has a nice mild sweetness with a grassy slight mild bitterness and long finish.This is so much nicer than Sencha. It reminds me of very mild matcha in it's flavor profile. I won't be drinking other green teas any more and this is not super premium grade and it is still fabulous. I can only imagine how great super premium Gyokuro is. I want to try Koyamaen's super premium Gyokuro. It has won many awards and It probably is top notch. Please give me any input on what companies you believe produce high end Gyokuro. I have seen Yamashita and have heard that theirs is also top notch. Blessings!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to learn that you can experience the tea ceremony in Little Tokyo. Thank you for sharing your experience. I regret to say that I have never tried super premium gyokuro from Koyamaen or from any major tea shops. I can’t give you an advice on this. If you try some of those super premium ones, let me know how you like them!
DeleteGreetings, The tea ceremony was at Zenshuji temple ,which is the oldest Soto Zen temple in all of North America. It is very formal and traditional there. The tea room they have is spectacular and the Sensei is one of the top in the world in Uresenke. She is 90 something years old and looks like she could be 70 something. Los Angeles has the largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan. Nisei week is next month and it lasts about ten days in Little Tokyo. there will be a few different tea ceremonies during that period. Blessings!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, so the ceremony was pretty authentic! It was held in a real tea room with Urasenke people. It sounds really great!
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