As a tea lover, I find books about tea to be very interesting, especially if the topic of Japan is involved. Imagine my happiness when I found a book...
Sugimoto America Genmaicha with Matcha
Genmaicha may be a low grade tea, but I’m a big fan of it. When it has added matcha, I like it even better! This genmaicha with matcha from...
Why Loose Leaf Tea is Better Than Tea Bags
Every once in a while the topic of tea bags comes up, especially when I’m having a tea tasting with people that have never tried loose leaf tea before....
The Kanayamidori Tea Cultivar
Kanayamidori (かなやみどり) is a cultivar known for making a sencha with body and a milky aroma. The use of this cultivar has been encouraged by tea research centers, so...
Furyu Mimasaka Bancha
This sample was sent to me by Geoffrey Norman, a fellow tea blogger that writes on Steep Stories. Furyu is a tea shop that specializes in rare types of...
Podcast 020: Cha Doraku
Have you ever seen a Japanese green tea with an extra step of oxidation? Neither had I until I heard about bihakkou (微発酵, slight withering), also called ichou (萎凋)...
Ippodo Hosen Sencha
It’s been a while since I reviewed a sencha, but thankfully Ippodo sent me their Hosen Sencha. This sencha blend is of premium quality according to Ippodo, and above...
The Soufuu Tea Cultivar
Soufuu (蒼風, そうふう) is a Japanese tea cultivar with a pleasant floral aroma. It loosely translates as “green wind”. It is intended for both sencha and oolong production, but...
How to Host a Tea Tasting Party at Home
As with many things in life, it’s best to taste a tea with the company of friends. Having a tea tasting party at home is fun for both experienced...
Matcha Chocolate Kit Kat
This chocolate bars are made by Nestle in Japan. Not only do they have matcha, it is from Uji! They come in a package with 12 mini bars and...
Podcast 019: Qterra NOVO Travel Tea Brewer
In this episode I talk with Pierre Baston, the inventor of the Qterra NOVO travel tea brewer. Imagine being able to brew multiple steepings of your favorite tea on...
Cold Brewing Green Tea
Did you know that it isn’t necessary to use hot water to brew your tea? Mizudashi (水出し) meaning “cold brewing” in Japanese is an easy way to brew your...