Gyokuro - Upton Tea

First, a note. The Tea Pages website has officially relocated to teapages.googlepages.com. Some of you might be using my original address - a redirect will be available there. But in the future, go to teapages.googlepages.com for the full website.

Now - today's tea.

Gyokuro, translated as Jewel Dew or Pearl Dew, is considered to be the finest of the Japanese green teas. The tea is covered with bamboo, reeds, or canvas screens as the first buds appear (about 3 weeks before harvest.) This shading causes the plant to increase its chlorophyll production yielding a brilliant emerald color. Gyokuro is used to produce the very special Matcha Uji.

The Gyokuro I purchased is from Upton Tea Imports. The first look at this dry leaf told me that this was a very special tea. The color was phenomenal and the shape of the leaf delicate and perfect. The tea brewed to a lovely lemony green. It was clear and bright with a vegetal aroma. I loved the flavor of this tea, a true green. It was grassy and strong without being overpowering. The aftertaste was sweet and the tea full bodied. A wonderful green.

Tea: Gyokuro
Source: Upton Tea Imports
Type: Green tea
Brewing details: 1 tsp at 180 degrees for 2 minutes
Comment: I have not tried other Gyokuros so I cannot make a comparison. I just know that I really enjoyed this tea.

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