Tea Review: Whisky Oak Barrel Wood Smoked Hojicha (Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden/Yunomi)

Whisky Oak Barrel Wood Smoked Hojicha/燻製焙茶 洋酒樽

Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden
Type: Flavored Green
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada
Product Description:

Hiroki Matsumoto, the young farmer at Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden is always challenging himself to create unique and extraordinary teas. This hojicha is indeed a distinct and fascinating hojicha, roasted from whisky oak barrel wood. While the smokiness may be quite surprising and expressive in comparison to typical hojichas, this tea is not overpowering. A perfect hojicha to enjoy in the winter time. What is more, it can also be enjoyed cold-brewed in the hot summer days! 

Temperature: 194° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaf aroma is smoky and sweet.

The amber liquor has an aroma of sweet smoke and roasted nuts.  The taste is boldly smoky with a long smoky finish.

This is possibly one of the most uniquely smoky teas I've tasted, with mesquite-like notes in the dry leaf aroma and a sharp feeling in the nostrils similar to wasabi after the first couple sips.  Comparing a 5-minute first steep to a 3-minute steep, I found I preferred the results from the shorter steeping time. The fullest flavor was in the first two infusions.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Jeju Island Sejak Green (Cultivate Taste Tea)

Jeju Island Sejak Green
Cultivate Taste Tea
Type: Green
Origin: South Korea, Jeju Island, Seogwipo, Harye-ri Village
Product Description:

This is a first flush Jeju Island Sejak green tea. Grown in the rich volcanic soil of the eastern slope of Mt Halla in Harye Village, Seogwigo, southern coast of Jeju Island in South Korea. This tea has a fresh early spring taste to it and uses the Japanese method of steaming the green tea leaves to prevent oxidization. It has a brothy and boldly vegetal cup that pleasantly lingers in the mouth with smooth, mild astringency. The liquor color reminds us of an early spring dandelion and the wet leaves smell of dried straw and cooked asparagus. This is for 1 ounce.

Temperature: 180° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2 minute

The dry leaves have a sharp, sweet green aroma.

The yellow liquor has a rich, nutty, and almost buttery aroma with sharp green grassy notes.  The taste is nutty with nori and grassy notes and mild astringency.  

This tea was lively and green, reminding me of summertime, with a flavor that held up well throughout three infusions.  

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Smoky Earl Grey (Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden/Yunomi)

Smoky Earl Grey
Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden
Type: Flavored Black, Oolong
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada, Kiriyama
Product Description:

The citrusy aroma of Italian bergamot is fused with Shizuoka Black Tea and a touch of Oolong Tea cultivated and crafted then expertly smoked by tea farmer Hiroki Matsumoto. A delicious fusion of two worlds and two cultures. Click here for a smoked version!

3rd generation tea farmer Hiroki Matsumoto manages some 30 fields in the Kiriyama region of the Makinohara plain in Shimada, Shizuoka. He utilizes the UNESCO designated World Heritage agricultural tradition, Chagusaba, to cultivate his tea leaves. This tradition requires farmers to cultivate sasa grasses surrounding the tea fields, and use the grasses as fertilizer in the fields.

Temperature: 194° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 5 minutes

The dry leaf blend includes black tea, oolong tea, and Italian bergamot.

The copper-red liquor has a bold aroma and taste of wood smoke and bergamot followed by a pleasant lingering aftertaste. 

While the flavor and aroma are bold, they aren't overwhelmingly so.  The tea remained flavorful throughout three infusions with sweetness developing by the second.  It really shines when paired with pastries, cakes, and sandwiches.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Jin Xuan Oolong (Floating Leaves)

Jin Xuan (Spring 2025)

Floating Leaves
Type: Oolong
Origin: Taiwan, Nantou
Product Description: 

This broth is milky with a sweet scent. Green style oolong processing yields a light body and flavor. Straightforward daily drinker.

Temperature: 195° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaves have a buttery and nutty pecan-like aroma.

The light yellow-green infusion has a rich, and buttery aroma with floral and green vine notes.  The taste is smooth with notes of sweet cream.  

The fullest flavor was in the first infusion and I also enjoyed the greener notes that moved to the front by the second.  Steeping a minute or two longer after to each infusion helped to bring out more flavor.

While this oolong works nicely when brewed western-style, it positively shines when prepared gongfu-style with a smaller brewing vessel and a higher water temperature.  I recommend using a gaiwan to allow the leaves to fully expand.

This tea was included in the Cascadia Autumn Steep 'n Sip tea box.

Tea Review: Saemidori Tamaryoku Sencha (Charaku)

Saemidori Tamaryoku Sencha

Charaku
Type: Green
Origin: Japan, Kagoshima Prefecture, Hioki
Product Description:

This Tamaryoku Sencha has has nicely comma-shape rolled leaves and a light grassy aroma. It infused to a light golden-green and medium body. Amami (sweetness) notes are up front, like honeydew melon, with very little astringency on the first infusion. Slightly hotter water brings out a little shibumi (astringency) and balance, but it still drinks smoothly with both sweet and astringent, but still very pleasant, notes. 

Tamaryoku refers to the rolling method of production where the leaves are rolled into a ball, or coiled, instead of the more prevalent needle shape rolling technique used much more widely in Japan. The resulting "comma" shaped leaves often infuse to a golden-yellow or light golden-green tea. It is the common rolling technique used in the Kyushu Prefectures of Saga (Ureshino Teas), Nagasaki (Sonogi Teas), Kumamoto, and Miyazaki. It is also referred to a "Guri-Cha" (curly tea), most often in Nagasaki and Kumamoto, but both terms are used in different parts of Japan when referring to Tamaryokucha.

The city of Hioki is on the western coast of Kagoshima, facing out towards the East China Sea. It is a recently formed city created by the mergers of the small towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, Hiyoshi, and Ijuuin. Tea farmers there grow a variety of cultivars, including this fine example of Saemidori.

Temperature: 180-185° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 20 seconds-2 minutes

The dry leaves have an aroma of nuts and green beans.

The liquor is light yellow with an aroma of edamame, steamed greens, and nuts.  The taste has notes of edamame with a hint of astringency and a long, green, nutty finish.

For the purpose of this review I followed the suggested brewing instructions, steeping the first infusion for 90 seconds in 180° F water, the second for 30 seconds in 185° F water, and the third for 20 seconds in 185° F water.  The results were really lovely throughout three infusions and I particularly appreciated the long, refreshing green finish.  While the aroma lightened notably by the third steeping, the flavor was still pleasantly green and toasty.  

This tea was provided as a free sample without guarantee of a review.

Tea Review: Genmaicha (Kaminari Issa)

Genmaicha/​玄米茶
Kaminari Issa/雷一茶
Type: Flavored Green
Origin: Japan
Product Description: 

It brings out the refreshing aroma of karigane and roasted rice.

Temperature: 175° F

Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 1-2 minutes

The dry leaf aroma has deep notes of nuts, roasted rice, and greens.

The yellow-green infusion has an aroma and taste of nuts and roasted rice with green bean-like notes in the finish.  

This was one of the most deliciously flavorful genmaicha blends I've tasted which may at least partially be due to using karigane (gyokuro stems).  I had flavorful results throughout three infusions by steeping the first two for 1 minute and the third for 2 minutes with the liquor color becoming bright green by the second infusion.

This tea is available in-store only, at the time of this review.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Spearmint (Mad Hat Tea Company)

Spearmint
Mad Hat Tea Company
Type: Herbal
Origin: Not Provided
Product Description:

100% Organic Spearmint

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 1 gram
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaf and the golden liquor have an aroma of sweet spearmint with a cooling spearmint flavor and a long refreshing finish.

As with peppermint tea, the dry leaves are very lightweight and a little goes a long, long way.  Brewing 1 gram of spearmint leaf (approximately 1 teaspoon) in 6-8 ounces of water allows the cool, refreshing taste to come through without being overpowering.  I'm rather fond of spearmint and this was a treat to review.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Sashima Izumi Wakoucha Oolong (Charaku)

Sashima Izumi Wakoucha/Oolong
Charaku
Type: Black
Origin: Japan, Ibaraki Prefecture, Sashima District, Sakai Town, Nagano-en Tea Farm
Product Description: 

This 1st Harvest Black Tea using the somewhat rare Izumi cultivar has won awards in 2023 and 2024. It infuses to clear pale pink color (mauve?) with a light aroma that is both roasted and floral. It has a full rounded mouthfeel and a light sweetness of honey and flowers with very little astringency and a smooth finish. Definitely, a black tea to drink straight. 

Temperature: 205° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 4-5 minutes

The dry leaves have a rich, nutty aroma.  

The liquor color is golden and peach-pink with an aroma of baked fruit, vine beans, and a floral hint.  The taste has notes of slightly tart baked fruit and vine bean with a lightly fruity finish.  

This tea was rather tasty and left me with a craving for baked apples. While the first infusion had the fullest flavor, the mellower second infusion was also quite enjoyable and would likely be even more flavorful using a little more leaf.  

 

This tea was provided as a free sample without guarantee of a review.

Tea Review: Gokokucha (Jugetsudo)

Gokokucha

Jugetsudo
Type: Herbal
Origin: Japan
Product Description: 

The five grains in this infusion once formed the basis of the Japanese diet. Herbs from traditional Chinese medicine have been added, enriching and sweetening the flavor of this specialty, which is excellent for your health. It notably contains ashitaba leaves, a relative of angelica cultivated in the West and known for its therapeutic properties. Enjoy a moment of pure relaxation with this infusion that blends the pleasant taste of grains with the freshness of herbs.

Temperature: 205° F
Amount: 2 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The tisane includes pearl barley, barley, black soybeans, black rice, corn, mulberry leaves, Job's tears, persimmon leaves, and angelica leaves.

The reddish-brown infusion has an aroma of roasted soy beans, toasted rice, and autumn leaves.  The taste is smooth with roasted soybean and rice notes at the front.

I was surprised by how much this reminded of mamemochi rice crackers (baked rice crackers with soy beans), one of my favorite snacks.  The fullest flavor is in the first infusion and it brews well in cups up to 16 ounces.  This tisane is only available in sachets, likely due to how finely the ingredients have been ground.

This tea was purchased by me.

Atria

This weekend I visited Atria, a boutique shop with a focus on slow living and specializing in handcrafted art, home goods, jewelry, and fragrances.  Atria opened on October 11th and is located on NW Market Street in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.  

The interior is open and filled with natural light, showcasing the colors and textures of the goods on display.

Tea enthusiasts will likely be drawn inside by the beautiful teaware on display in the window and the delightfully healthy tea plant near the entrance.  Atria also sells tea, currently sourced from Onyx, and tea-infused chocolate along with other flavors.

While there are no in-store events scheduled at the time of this review, they do hope to host something experiential in the future.  Follow Atria on Instagram for news and updates.

Address:
4228 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA 98103

Hours:
11:00 am-6:00 pm Wednesday-Saturday
10:00 am-5:00 pm Sunday

Closed Monday-Tuesday