It's all about the References
Show notes
https://sankomatcha.com/collections/tencha
Buy Tencha References Online (a very humble start of a list! Please forgive us, sourcing tencha is very difficult at the moment):
In this episode, Ryan and Zongjun (Sam) delve into the complexities of matcha and tea tasting, emphasizing the importance of reliable references for building a mental model of flavors. They discuss the balance between transparency in labeling and the enjoyment of tea, the significant role of marketing in perceived quality, and the challenges of consumer education in the tea industry. The conversation highlights the need for reference samples and the potential future of matcha in specialty markets, advocating for a community-driven approach to education and appreciation of tea on objective truths such as where the tencha was grown, how long it was shaded, the method of shading, fertilizers applied, harvest season, harvest method, processing techniques and cultivar used.