Tea Review: Cinnamon Wood Smoked Black Tea (Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden/Yunomi)

Cinnamon Wood Smoked Black Tea/燻製紅茶 肉桂

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

Silver Medal Winner of the 2014 International Tea Tasting Competition, Matsumoto-san smokes his black tea using the wood from the cinnamon tree. No flavorings or additives used.

The smokiness of the tea is light, and retains a strong hint of the cinnamon flavor. 

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2 minutes

The dry leaves have a deeply smoky aroma with cinnamon notes.

The liquor is dark red with an aroma of wood smoke and sweet cinnamon.  The taste is smoky with notes of cinnamon, no notable astringency, and a long savory, smoky finish.

As with other smoked teas from Kaneroku Matsumoto-en, this was nicely balanced in flavor and aroma, deeply smoky without being overwhelming.  While I was very pleased with the results from steeping for 2 minutes, the lack of astringency allows for longer steeping times for those looking for something stronger.  The first two infusions produced the fullest flavor with a much mellower third infusion.  I admit, it took a while to start this review because I was busy savoring the aroma of the smoked tea leaves.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: 2022 Unshaded Saemidori Single Cultivar Fukamushicha - Limited Edition (Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto-en)

2022 Unshaded Saemidori Single Cultivar Fukamushicha - Limited Edition
Kaneroku Matsumotoen/Yunomi
Type: Green
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada, Kiriyama
Product Description:

This year's saemidori cultivar has come out excellent. Even though unshaded, the strength of the field's natural umami creates a delicious balance as a deep-steamed fukamushi sencha green tea. 

But, please remember that extremely sweet versions of saemidori are made so by shading the field (sometimes only a few days so not called “Kabusecha”). This tea is meant for those who seek a strong-bodied, bitter tea.

Temperature: 160° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 30 seconds-1 minute

The dry leaves have a sweet green and nutty aroma.

The bright green liquor is semi-opaque with a sweet green, nutty, and buttery aroma.  The taste is sweet, green and nutty, with the first hints of astringency and a long green finish.

I purchased this tea a year after it was produced and it seems to have aged beautifully.  The aroma had unexpected buttery notes and the mouthfeel was surprisingly smooth.  A lovely amami (sweetness) developed in the second infusion, appearing at the back of my mouth following each sip.  After the first two 30 second steepings, the liquor became clear and held up well to a longer 1 minute steeping. While this hit exactly right for my preferences. you can achieve more boldness and astringency by starting out with a slightly longer steeping time (45 seconds to 1 minute).

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: World Heritage Genmaicha (Kaneroku Matsumoto-en/Yunomi)

World Heritage Genmaicha (玄米茶)

Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto-en
Type: Flavored Green
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka, Shimada
Product Description: 

Award winning Genmaicha!

Genmaicha using first flush green tea grown in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, and rice grown in Shiroyone Senmaida, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the Noto Peninsula. Both places are registered as Agricultural World Heritage. This Genmaicha is awarded No.1 'Natural Flavor', Japanese Tea award in 2014.

Temperature: 175° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2 minutes

The dry leaf aroma is marine green with rice cracker notes.

The liquor is yellow-green and slightly cloudy with toasty notes of rice crackers and marine green notes of nori.  The taste is green, savory, and mildly astringent with toasty rice cracker notes and a long, sweet green, and toasty finish.

I really enjoyed the results when preparing this tea with 175° F water, a 2-minute initial steeping, and 1-minute second and third steepings.  The flavors were bold with the fresh, spring-green taste of the tea leaves and toasted rice with just a touch of astringency.  By the third infusion, the toasted rice notes had moved to the front in aroma and flavor.  For those who prefer more astringency, consider preparing this tea following the recommendations on the packaging by using 5 grams of leaf, 195° F water, and steeping for 1 minute.

The tea aroma reminded me distinctly of norimaki arare (rice crackers wrapped in dried seaweed) while the taste reminded me of yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls) or bottom rice (the good stuff that sticks to the bottom of the pot after the rice is cooked) which is only unfortunate because I have access to none of these tasty foods as I write this review.

This tea was part of a New Year fukubukuro/lucky bag I purchased from Yunomi.  I'm so pleased with what was included that I'll have to do it again next New Year!

Tea Review: Yakushima Cedar Wood Smoked Hojicha (Kaneroku Matsumoto-en/Yunomi)

Yakushima Cedar Wood Smoked Hojicha (燻製焙茶)
Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto-en
Type: Flavored Green
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka, Shimada
Product Description: Smoked using cedar wood from Yakushima Island

Temperature: 175° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2 minutes

The dry leaves have a bold aroma of wood smoke, reminiscent of a smokehouse or campfire.

The copper orange infusion has a bold and spicy aroma of wood smoke with peppery notes.  The taste is smoky yet mild, reminding me of wood-smoked food, with a long and mildly smoky finish.

This tea reminded me distinctly of the lakeside campground I used to visit when we would fend off the morning chill around the campfire while smoke from neighboring camps drifted in.   The bold aroma suggests an equally bold taste, so I was pleasantly surprised by how it mellowed within seconds on the tongue.  I would definitely enjoy this paired with food like brie or cheddar cheese, as well as with breakfast.

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

Tea Review: Sakura Wood Smoked Black Tea (Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden/Yunomi)

Sakura Wood Smoked Black Tea/燻製紅茶
Yunomi/Kaneroku Matsumoto Tea Garden
Type: Flavored Black
Origin: Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada
Product Description: Black tea smoked with wood from the sakura or Japanese cherry blossom tree. No flavorings or additives used.

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

The dry leaves have a smoky aroma with a faint floral hint of sakura (cherry blossoms).

The deep red infusion has a heady aroma of smoke with a faintly sweet note of sakura.  The taste is smoky, though not overpoweringly so, mildy astringent and mouth-watering with the same faint notes of sakura.

Matsumoto-san is pioneering smoked teas in Japan and it has been fascinating to experience the unique characteristics that result from different sources of wood smoke.  I've had some exposure to sakura-infused food and drink and I found hints of those familiar notes in this tea.  Though the first two infusions had the fullest flavor, a third infusion was also enjoyable.

This tea was purchased by me.