Thursday, June 26, 2014

Tea Review: Organic Japanese Black Tea Setoya Momiji (NaturaliTea/Yunomi)

Organic Japanese Black Tea Setoya Momiji
Yunomi/NaturaliTea
Type: Black
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka
Product Description:  Ayumi Kinezuka returns to Sri Lanka frequently to study techniques and incorporates them, combines them with our knowledge of Japanese Yabukita tea plants to create the the Setoya Momiji. What we are aiming for is a mellow, naturally sweet tea without astringency that tastes amazing without mixing sugar or milk.

Setoya is the name given to the area in Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where many of our fields are located.

Momiji is the name for Japanese maple, a beautiful tree with delicate leaves that turn bright red and orange during the fall.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaves have an aroma of pine wood, barley, hay, molasses, and something that reminds me of a savory broth.

The copper red infusion has an aroma that reminds me of baked peaches, squash, and honey with a hint of citrus.  The flavor is mildly astringent with a dry fruity finish.

This tea reminds me of mid-grown black teas from India or Sri Lanka.  It's astringent, but not so much that it requires milk to enjoy.  The aroma changes on a second and third steeping, becoming quite floral.  While this tea is at its best on the first steeping, I enjoyed the third steeping because the astringency had mellowed significantly while the flavor had not become flat.

This tea was purchased by me.




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