Tea Info
Type: Herbal/Tisane
Producer: Kyoto Sanjo Kaneido
Origin: Japan
Brewing Parameters: 5g, 100°C, 3-4 minutes – loose leaf/beans
Appearance: Whole, light tan beans (maybe up to 1/3rd inch in length) with a cracked black shell; the beans without the shells actually look a bit like peanuts
Rating: B+ | 89/100
# of Brews: 3
Tasting Notes and Thoughts
Oh no, I'm almost done with all of my Japan teas! The only ones I have left are this one and a powdered mushroom tea with gold (and to be honest, I feel like that'd taste more like a broth/soup instead of a tea).
Anyway, this tea seems much more high quality than the first one I drank. The packaging is a nice paper envelope with gold tape, with the tea in a plastic bag. As for the actual tea, it's the full bean in its shell instead of chopped up pieces with mostly shells. The smell is very similar to peanuts instead of the roasty smell of the other tea.
Watching the tea was one of the coolest things ever, actually. You know when you put grape skittles or something with food coloring in water, and the food coloring kind of emanates from it? Well, that's exactly what happened here. For some reason, the tea was a reddish, black color– like diluted red wine– which was interesting. If you remember the last black bean tea I had, it was a dark, yellowish color. I hope they didn't actually add any food coloring or anything.
The flavor was much more light and nuanced compared to the other one I had. Despite the confusing color, the main taste was the roasted, savory, and slightly sweet flavor of the soybeans. There was also a peanut butter flavor, with a creamy/smooth texture. I didn't really notice an aftertaste other than a very light roasty taste, but I did notice a bit of a waxy texture on my tongue after. The tea didn't really last very long; the first brew was very dark and somewhat strong (3 min.), but in the subsequent brews, the liquid was very light with not that much taste (4-6 minute brews). Overall, I actually enjoyed this one very much (much more than the other tea I had); the only issue I really have with it is the lack of durability/small number of brews.
Other Notes
Well, this has been a very busy two weeks, and March is going to be a very busy month. In the past two weeks, I've done a ton: applied for next year's Competition Civics, turned in most of my applications for summer internships (got 1 more, gonna write it today), won 3rd place in the Ohlone College Biotechnology Quiz Bowl, won 1st or 2nd (not announced yet) place in the county for Journalist in Mock Trial, and finally had the Science Alliance (that one club with that guy that's a huge pain to work with) approved.
First off, let's talk about the quiz bowl. Our school has 2 teams, and I was put into the team that is admittedly less smart than the other (my friends were in the group, so I didn't mind). We ended up losing our first round, but made it to Round 3, meaning that we were the wildcard team in the semi-finals. We lost there too (since we went against the team that beat us at the start), but we got enough points to win third place. It was super fun since our team did not practice at all– the other teams looked like they have been prepping for weeks– and we just made jokes and played with our teacher's kids.
Next, mock trial! I competed a while ago, but I got the results at semi-finals (Tuesday this week). All of our team's artists and journalists (including me) are advancing to the state competition, which means that we are all in first or second place. I'm pretty hyped about that, but I'll have to be practicing my journalism-ing now– the competition is on March 18 at Sacramento. The main team, however, isn't advancing. We won semis and had the highest win percentage with no losses, but we ended up losing to the current champions at finals. Oh well, there's next year and we have a lot of potential– it's just that a few of our members don't put in the effort.
Finally, March! Busy month. I got my last internship application due on the 4th (unless I find another internship, which means I'll be applying to five in total), an English speech arguing against child support on the 11th, the science fair on the 12th (set up is on the 11th), and Mock Trial state on the 18th. If I feel confident enough about my project, there's a second fair I should sign up for; applications close on the 11th (I might just sign up though for the hell of it, but my project is honestly way too simple/basic to compete). Gonna be a fun month.
Oh, and also, it turns out my girlfriend (and best friend) is going to be moving in six months. It sucks.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Recipe: Homemade C2 Green Tea (Apple)
Two posts today since I missed last weeks' review. This is kind of a very simple drink recipe, but hell, it tastes like the actual drink so I thought I'd post it.
If you're Filipino, or have been in a Filipino supermarket, you've probably seen or tasted this drink. Essentially, it's a fruit flavored drink with tea with flavors like apple or peach; however, it's deathly sweet and has a metric butt-ton of sugar (probably because it'd be hard to sell in the Philippines if it wasn't; when I was over there, soda is very popular– even moreso than here in America). Anyway, since I love apple, I used to drink a ton of it, but now it tastes way too sweet. I actually figured out this recipe by accident though, and was surprised at how similar it tastes.
It's very simple: all you need is apple juice, green tea (I've been using the Ta Jin Xuan green tea), sugar, and salt.
1. Brew your green tea to a relatively strong strength without making it bitter. I found that brewing 5 grams with 80°C water for 30 seconds to a minute works pretty well, but try experimenting since all tea differs.
2. Add your apple juice to the tea in a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio (more apple juice than tea, to get a similar sweetness and apple flavor to actual C2).
3. Add sugar to taste, and (if you prefer) a very small pinch of salt.
4. Chill the drink, and serve when cold.
It's pretty good, and the only issue I've found is that it can be a bit sour if there's not enough apple juice, so adding sugar would fix that.
If you're Filipino, or have been in a Filipino supermarket, you've probably seen or tasted this drink. Essentially, it's a fruit flavored drink with tea with flavors like apple or peach; however, it's deathly sweet and has a metric butt-ton of sugar (probably because it'd be hard to sell in the Philippines if it wasn't; when I was over there, soda is very popular– even moreso than here in America). Anyway, since I love apple, I used to drink a ton of it, but now it tastes way too sweet. I actually figured out this recipe by accident though, and was surprised at how similar it tastes.
It's very simple: all you need is apple juice, green tea (I've been using the Ta Jin Xuan green tea), sugar, and salt.
1. Brew your green tea to a relatively strong strength without making it bitter. I found that brewing 5 grams with 80°C water for 30 seconds to a minute works pretty well, but try experimenting since all tea differs.
2. Add your apple juice to the tea in a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio (more apple juice than tea, to get a similar sweetness and apple flavor to actual C2).
3. Add sugar to taste, and (if you prefer) a very small pinch of salt.
4. Chill the drink, and serve when cold.
It's pretty good, and the only issue I've found is that it can be a bit sour if there's not enough apple juice, so adding sugar would fix that.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Tea Review: Caramel Apple Dream - Celestial Seasonings
Tea Info
Type: Herbal/Tisane
Producer: Celestial Seasonings
Origin: Unknown (United States?)
Brewing Parameters: ~2 g, 100°C, 4-6 minutes – teabag
Appearance: Cloth/paper teabag with cinnamon, hibiscus, orange peel, chamomile, chicory, ginger, and sea salt
Rating: B | 85/100
# of Brews: 1
Tasting Notes and Thoughts
Quick review today. I actually picked this tea up a while ago at a Whole Foods just because I thought drinking a caramel apple would be interesting (it was pretty expensive though; $6+ for 20 tea bags). Even before brewing, it's very pungent, smelling like cinnamon and spice. When brewed, however, it smells exactly like chewy caramel candy and the liquid is a brownish red color.
To be honest, I don't know if it's just me today or the water or something, but the tea just tastes off; I've had it before, and it usually doesn't taste like it is today. I do brew it much longer, however, and today I'm brewing it according to the box, so keep that in mind. The main flavor of the tea is, well, caramel apple (not as sweet as a real one, however). The caramel is more prevalent than the apple, and there is actually a bit of spiciness from the cinnamon or ginger. It's sweet enough that you don't need to add any honey or sugar or anything. The flavor is essentially this: sweet and salty caramel, a bit of a spicy kick, and then a sour apple. The aftertaste is exactly how it smells, and it lingers for a while in your mouth. It's an interesting novelty, but for the price, it's probably one of those teas you drink a full pack of once, and then never again (I like it though).
Other Notes
No school today, since it's President's Day! I have nothing really planned other than more internship applications (I finally finished and submitted two; I want to do just one more for Stanford's Genecamp), studying for an APUSH essay on Wednesday, the competition civics application, and catching up on this week's homework. This week is going to be a busy one: Tuesday, I have work, Wednesday, I have Mock Trial, Thursday, I have the Ohlone college Biotechnology Quiz Bowl, and Friday, I have fencing club (did I mention? A few of my coworkers opened the club back up and since I'm one of the only people there that has actually fenced before, I have to teach everyone). I spent the whole weekend playing Total War: Shogun 2, so I actually want to get something done today (beat my first campaign as Shimazu, though!).
Oh, and it's my girlfriend's birthday today, so happy birthentines!!! Thanks for everything and I love you.
Type: Herbal/Tisane
Producer: Celestial Seasonings
Origin: Unknown (United States?)
Brewing Parameters: ~2 g, 100°C, 4-6 minutes – teabag
Appearance: Cloth/paper teabag with cinnamon, hibiscus, orange peel, chamomile, chicory, ginger, and sea salt
Rating: B | 85/100
# of Brews: 1
Tasting Notes and Thoughts
Quick review today. I actually picked this tea up a while ago at a Whole Foods just because I thought drinking a caramel apple would be interesting (it was pretty expensive though; $6+ for 20 tea bags). Even before brewing, it's very pungent, smelling like cinnamon and spice. When brewed, however, it smells exactly like chewy caramel candy and the liquid is a brownish red color.
To be honest, I don't know if it's just me today or the water or something, but the tea just tastes off; I've had it before, and it usually doesn't taste like it is today. I do brew it much longer, however, and today I'm brewing it according to the box, so keep that in mind. The main flavor of the tea is, well, caramel apple (not as sweet as a real one, however). The caramel is more prevalent than the apple, and there is actually a bit of spiciness from the cinnamon or ginger. It's sweet enough that you don't need to add any honey or sugar or anything. The flavor is essentially this: sweet and salty caramel, a bit of a spicy kick, and then a sour apple. The aftertaste is exactly how it smells, and it lingers for a while in your mouth. It's an interesting novelty, but for the price, it's probably one of those teas you drink a full pack of once, and then never again (I like it though).
Other Notes
No school today, since it's President's Day! I have nothing really planned other than more internship applications (I finally finished and submitted two; I want to do just one more for Stanford's Genecamp), studying for an APUSH essay on Wednesday, the competition civics application, and catching up on this week's homework. This week is going to be a busy one: Tuesday, I have work, Wednesday, I have Mock Trial, Thursday, I have the Ohlone college Biotechnology Quiz Bowl, and Friday, I have fencing club (did I mention? A few of my coworkers opened the club back up and since I'm one of the only people there that has actually fenced before, I have to teach everyone). I spent the whole weekend playing Total War: Shogun 2, so I actually want to get something done today (beat my first campaign as Shimazu, though!).
Oh, and it's my girlfriend's birthday today, so happy birthentines!!! Thanks for everything and I love you.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Tea Review: Mystery Tea (Genmaicha?) - Unknown
Tea Info
Type: Green
Producer: Unknown
Origin: Japan
Brewing Parameters: 5 g, ~80°C, 30s – Cupping
Appearance: Large, flat brown leaves with popped rice, stems, and I think roasted soybean shells
Rating: C- | 72/100
# of Brews: 3
Tasting Notes and Thoughts
I'm a bit sick today, so this is going to be a quick and probably not that in depth review. To be completely honest, though, I have no idea what this tea is. Because it has popped rice, I'm assuming it's genmaicha, but the leaves and presence of stems makes me question that. There were no labels on the container it came in, too; the only sticker on the container just stated in Japanese that it's a tea caddy made of ABS plastic.
The smell is interesting, to say the least. When the leaves are dry, it smells of soy sauce, but when they're wet, it smells like marijuana smoke. The liquid, on the other hand, was still smokey, but more indistinct and less like marijuana. The color of the tea was a dark amber color, and there was very little sediment even without using a strainer. It tasted how it smelled, with roasty and savory notes of smoke, nuts (cashews?), and wood. It was a bit sour, too, with complimented the smoke taste, which lingered in the mouth long after drinking. The texture was generally smooth, but dried the throat very slightly for a few seconds. Overall, I don't know how I feel about it; the taste is alright (it's unique, in a word), but I can't stand the smoky smell and strength.
Other Notes
No school today! Since I'm sick (sore throat, nasal drip, runny nose, the works), all I'll be doing is homework and catching up on stuff– mainly just homework, studying, applications, and the science fair. I kind of spent the whole weekend playing Total War Shogun 2, which I'm a bit obsessed with now.
Type: Green
Producer: Unknown
Origin: Japan
Brewing Parameters: 5 g, ~80°C, 30s – Cupping
Appearance: Large, flat brown leaves with popped rice, stems, and I think roasted soybean shells
Rating: C- | 72/100
# of Brews: 3
Tasting Notes and Thoughts
I'm a bit sick today, so this is going to be a quick and probably not that in depth review. To be completely honest, though, I have no idea what this tea is. Because it has popped rice, I'm assuming it's genmaicha, but the leaves and presence of stems makes me question that. There were no labels on the container it came in, too; the only sticker on the container just stated in Japanese that it's a tea caddy made of ABS plastic.
The smell is interesting, to say the least. When the leaves are dry, it smells of soy sauce, but when they're wet, it smells like marijuana smoke. The liquid, on the other hand, was still smokey, but more indistinct and less like marijuana. The color of the tea was a dark amber color, and there was very little sediment even without using a strainer. It tasted how it smelled, with roasty and savory notes of smoke, nuts (cashews?), and wood. It was a bit sour, too, with complimented the smoke taste, which lingered in the mouth long after drinking. The texture was generally smooth, but dried the throat very slightly for a few seconds. Overall, I don't know how I feel about it; the taste is alright (it's unique, in a word), but I can't stand the smoky smell and strength.
Other Notes
No school today! Since I'm sick (sore throat, nasal drip, runny nose, the works), all I'll be doing is homework and catching up on stuff– mainly just homework, studying, applications, and the science fair. I kind of spent the whole weekend playing Total War Shogun 2, which I'm a bit obsessed with now.
As for last week, it was pretty eventful. On Monday, I watched our competition civics team practice in a dress rehearsal (since I'm trying out for the team next year); Tuesday, I did work and a bunch of homework; Wednesday, I had my mock trial competition, and Thursday I submitted my work and studied. Friday I just chilled and I ended up getting sick on Saturday. I'll need to start getting my shit together since the internship applications are due in less than two weeks (I'm applying to three), and the science fair is a month. Wish me luck.
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