Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Green Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
Light green tea notes with floral accents and exceptionally smooth finish. Produced from an imported Japanese Sencha tea genus. Certain plots of Kosabei Estate shared similar ph levels to traditional Sencha plots in Shizuoka, Japan. The broad-leafed bushes proved highly adaptable in the Kenyan soil. The Japanese method of steaming the leaf before production is employed the final cup is bright with notes of grass, moss, honey and delicate seaweed. What makes Kenya teas so excellent (and called the Tuscany of tea) are its excellent climactic conditions and rich soil found east of Kenya’s Rift valley. This tea estate is pesticide and herbicide free. Pests can’t survive the high altitudes. Nitrogen is used as a natural fertilizer to boost yield and ensure continuous crop. The all natural farming methods produce tea of unsurpassed flavor and high antioxidant content. Grown with no pesticides needed/used due to high altitudes.
Country of Origin: Kenya
Region: Kericho
Grade: Sencha
Altitude: 6500′ ft. above sea level
Manuf. Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Rich russet gold.
Ingredients: Luxury green teaAn Ethical Tea Partnership and Fair Trade Tea.
Hot Tea: This tea is best enjoyed by pouring 180F/90C water over the leaves (1 tsp per cup) for 3 minutes (longer=stronger). Don’t remove the leaves. Can be infused repeatedly 2-3 times using higher temperatures & shorter infusions until flavor is exhausted.Iced Tea: Pour 1 1/4 cups of hot water over 6 teaspoons of tea and steep for 5 minutes. Pour into pitcher while straining leaves, add ice and top up with cold water to make a quart of iced tea. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My sample package of this tea says Kenya Zebra Sencha Tea From Green Tea Lovers or Sencha Zebra (Kenya) as it is listed on their website is an interesting green tea. The leaves are unlike other Senchas or Green Teas I have had before. These appear to be a greyish-light-brown that are randomly flattened but not completely flatted such as those you would see being paper thin…these have a three- layer dimensional view to them. The aroma of the dry leaf is more reminiscent of a gentle pu-erh than a green.
Once you infuse this leaf in hot water the tea water is a little cloudy and more of a mucky color instead of a vibrant yellow or green or combo of the two. The aroma of the tea post-infusion is certainly more of a roasted green or even that of a roasted oolong that I have sniffed in the past.
The first sip of this Kenya Zebra Sencha Tea From Green Tea Lovers – I have to say I wasn’t overly impressed with – however – I know to always give teas a 2nd chance once it has time to cool at room temperature for a bit. Glad I did because my 2nd sip was far better than my 1st. This green tea isn’t a mouth watering green tea, nor is it a vibrant or springy green tea. It’s more of an earthy and roasted green tea. It has a character and identity of it’s own. It’s pretty good and I always enjoy trying more teas from Kenya.
Pommes Hi Antiox Green Tea from Green Tea Lovers
Tea Type:
Green Tea
Where To Buy:
Green Tea Lovers
Product Description:
Contains ultra-high antioxidant level of 13.05% vs 5-6% for mass-market teas.
Character:Exceptional Japanese Sencha enhanced with notes of orchard fresh Granny Smith apple. Sweet, smooth finish. What do you get when you blend apples with a Hi-Antiox Kenyan Green Dryer Mouth tea? In addition to a refreshingly brisk cup of tea, the antioxidant goodness of two of Mother Nature’s greatest creations. Hi-Antiox Pommes Green delivers an antioxidant boost combined with delicate notes of grass, freshly cut apples and sweet astringent layers – a superb, any-time-of-day sipper! The teas used to create this blend: Kosabei: this estate produces some of Kenya’s finest teas. Certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership and Fair Trade.
Country of Origin: Kenya, Japan
Region: Kericho, Shizuoka
Grade: Sencha
Altitude: 2500, 1000 feet above sea level
Manuf. Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Rich green, mixed ‘natural tea’
Ingredients: Luxury green tea, Natural dried apple, Natural flavors.
Tasters Review:
Pommes Hi Antiox Green Tea from Green Tea Lovers – where to begin? This is slightly sweet but also fairly green tasting. The Granny Smith Apple provides a sweet and smoothness that is really nice. It has a somewhat drier end sip. It’s true to it’s description and is fairly refreshing considering the semi-dry mouth-feel it has.
I agree this tea has multiple layers that are quite complex. I think that is what I like best about this offering! That AND that it’s certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership AND Fair Trade! That’s ALWAYS a PLUS.
Sencha Ryokucha Tsumi from Green Tea Lovers
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Green Tea Lovers
Product Description:
Country of Origin: Japan
Region: Kagoshima Prefecture
Grade: Sencha
Altitude: 500 – 1500 ft. above sea level
Manuf. Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Tending green w/depth & body.
Ingredients: Premium green tea
Character: A distinctive rich vegetative taste.Contains very high antioxidant levels vs 5-6% for mass-market teas.
This Sencha replaces the original Oh-i-Ocha 1500. Its an early-April, first crop sencha harvested from leaves in the Kagoshima region. The growing climate produces a deep rich aroma and taste and a bright green tea color. The first crop of the four annual harvests is considered best when tea leaves are younger and softer. Produced under ISO 14001 Certified Environmental Management Standards.
Taster’s Review:
I would like to preface this review to state that this tea was received before the recent disaster in Japan, therefore there is no chance of any contamination. It just took me a while to get to trying it so I could review it. No worries!
This is a delightful Sencha. The aroma of the brewed tea is quite vegetal and I worried that this would be extraordinarily grassy, but it isn’t. Yes, the grassy/vegetative tones are there, but, they are subdued by the sweetness of this tea.
The flavor is bright and fresh. This is a light-bodied tea, but, the flavor is very rich. This Sencha has a delicious nutty background that melds well with the sweetness. It has an invigorating quality to it, and as I sip I can feel myself energize!
The brewing parameters for this tea suggest using 2 teaspoons (rather than just one) for each cup, and steeping just 40 seconds at 176°. Following these instructions produces a beautiful, sweet brew that is delicious either hot or iced, although I prefer it hot. It is so calming to sip! I recommend following these parameters – you will be rewarded!
Balinese Rainbow Jasmine Green Tea from Green Tea Lovers
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: Green Tea Lovers
Product Description:
Country of Origin: China
Region: Fujian Province
Grade: Jasmine Grade 1
Altitude: 1500’ ft. above sea level
Manuf. Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Pale yellow to bright and green
Ingredients: Luxury green tea, Natural dried jasmine blossoms + buds, Osmanthus petals, Calendula + Sunflower petals, Cornflower petals, Safflower petals.
Character: Exotic full floral Jasmine. Smooth green tea flavor. Long delicate floral finish.A luxury Jasmine green tea with cornflower, safflower, osmanthus, calendula and sunflower petals. The cup is a heavenly mixture of sweet floral notes and grassy undertones. A fabulous blend befitting the island that gives it its name.
Hot Tea: This tea is best enjoyed by pouring 180F or 90C water over the leaves (1 teaspoon per cup) for 3 minutes (longer=stronger). Don’t remove the leaves. Can be infused repeatedly 2-3 times using higher temperatures & shorter infusions until flavor is exhausted.
Iced Tea: Pour 1 1/4 cups of hot water over 6 teaspoons of tea and steep for 5 minutes. Pour into pitcher while straining leaves, add ice and top up with cold water to make a quart of iced tea. Garnish and sweeten to taste. Produced under ISO 14001 Certified Environmental Management Standards.
Tasters Review:
What a gorgeous green tea!
I was assuming it was just going to be green tea with flavoring but you can see all the different floral ingredients within.
It’s VERY pretty! The Jasmine (and other flowers) are wonderfully done…noticeable but not overly intense….not to mention colorful and pleasing to the eyes!
There is a nice sweeter side of the green tea coming out and it shine thru with the floral notes!
This is REALLY nice…I wish more Jasmine Teas could be this nice! Thank you Green Tea Lovers for a beautiful tea…inside and out! This wakes-up the sense, that is for sure!
Tsumi Sencha Green Tea from Green Tea Lovers
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: Green Tea Lovers
Product Description:
Country of Origin: Japan
Region: Kagoshima Prefecture
Grade: Sencha
Altitude: 500 – 1500 ft. above sea level
Manuf. Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Tending green w/depth & body.
Ingredients: Premium green tea
Character: A distinctive rich vegetative taste.Contains very high antioxidant levels vs 5-6% for mass-market teas.
This Sencha replaces the original Oh-i-Ocha 1500. Its an early-April, first crop sencha harvested from leaves in the Kagoshima region. The growing climate produces a deep rich aroma and taste and a bright green tea color. The first crop of the four annual harvests is considered best when tea leaves are younger and softer. Produced under ISO 14001 Certified Environmental Management Standards.
Hot Tea: This tea is best enjoyed by pouring 176F/80C water over the leaves (2 teaspoons per cup) for 40 seconds (longer=stronger). Don’t remove the leaves. Can be infused repeatedly 2-3 times using higher temperatures & shorter infusions until flavor is exhausted.
Iced Tea: Pour 1 1/4 cups of hot water over 6 teaspoons of tea and steep for 5 minutes. Pour into pitcher while straining leaves, add ice and top up with cold water to make a quart of iced tea. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
Tasters Review:
I usually infuse my green teas for about 3 minutes, but this one suggests 40 seconds! So I did just that!
It isn’t much for aroma and the color is a murky green but it DOES taste very clean!
The flavor really enhances itself as it cools at room temp for a minute or two. It’s fairly sweet. Tsumi Sencha Green from Green Tea Lovers is a very nice GREEN tea! I’m happy I decided to follow the directions on the infusion time…it was JUST RIGHT!!!!
I would agree that if you are a Green Tea Lover you should check out the Green Tea Lovers Company! They have some wonderful offerings!