Used a Bonavita variable temp. kettle. Water was city tap (Toronto) filtered through a Britta. This tea is incredibly fine, especially for the price point. Long, lingering aftertaste, brilliant colour, aroma took me right to the sea. Umami is the predominant flavour, with a rich mouthfeel reminiscent of cream. Not complex, but very approachable. I would happily buy this many times again.
I also tried to pour the boiled water into an enamelled cast iron pot before pouring into the chawan. It resulted in a grippier, softer tea which added an element of dimension. I don’t have a tetsubin, unfortunately, but the cast iron pot suggests that this tea could benefit from one.
Flavors: Creamy, Marine, Seaweed, Umami