Oh NO.
Ew.
So I was a bit adventurous at work today, and I figured, let’s explore the options in the Flavia machine! Oh look! Here’s a Japanese green!
So I have no idea what the leaves look like, because they’re concealed in a foil packet thinger. I’m pretty sure there is leaf in this, and it’s just not powder. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it was powder. If I get bored enough, I just might cut one of these suckers open. I wonder if I’ll be horrified at the contents.
Anyway, this steeps/pours/does whatever and it’s a neon green, akin to a sencha or ryokucha. NOT BAD, I’m thinking to myself. The smell coming off the cup isn’t half bad either! It’s grassy in a very Japanese green/sencha-like way, with a very faint hint of butteryness. Hrm.
So I wait for it to cool, and sip, and HOLY GOD BAD. Yeah. Um. What the hell. I feel bad for the poor person that had this, thinking that this is what sencha really tastes like, and then never had Japanese green tea again. It’s ridiculously bitter. You can tell that the machine has absolutely no clue about water temperatures and steep times and the like. The leaves taste like they’re screaming for help, dying as they’re engulfed in scalding water. It’s such an unpleasant taste. Blech.
I tolerated a few sips before I had to toss this one. This makes me only all the more eager to nail the sencha I have here in my house even more.
And so the work tea saga continues…
Hahahahha, I read Oh NO. Ew. Loved it =]
I mean, it’s unfortunate you had such a bad tea experience with the Flavia machine, but at least your misfortune can bring pleasure to other Steepster members =P. Now I’m tempted to grab some tea from a Flavia machine. Ummm, I’ll have to find time to stop by that building where there is one =P. I usually just grab hot chocolate from it. It seems the safest thing to do =P
If you don’t gut one, I will next week. I’m off to Nashville to take a training class next week, and there’s a flavia machine at the training facility. I’ll take one back to my hotel room and dissect it. ;)
That sounds so nasty :D But it was awesome to read!
One of the paradoxes of Steepster is that when people really hate a tea, it often makes the reviews so much more entertaining.
I cut one open today. Looks like Kukicha, but finer cut. Smells and tastes exactly like it, too.